CAUTION: Work You “Like” Is More Dangerous Than A Job You Hate

7 Reasons Why Loving Your Work Matters More Than You Ever Realized

Is your job “OK”, “All Right” or “Fine”? You’re probably in a worse position than someone who has a horrible job.

That may sound counterintuitive but, if you have a job you hate... you’re probably ready to find something else. And you almost certainly will find other work; it’s just a matter of when. On the other hand, if you have a job you “like”, at least well enough... you may stay stuck in that job indefinitely... maybe even your entire life.

If you like but don’t love your work, you’ve probably settled for “OK” or “good enough”. And when you settle for “good enough”, you kill your soul. Instead of a vibrant dance with life you’re doing a little shuffle step.

And that’s a tragedy. No matter what you do… it is vitally important. For a number of reasons, when you do anything other than work you love you are shirking your responsibility to yourself... and to life.

At this point, you’re probably thinking, “Sure it’d be great to have work I loved, but why is that so important?”

Here are 7 reasons why loving your work matters so darn much:

1. Sheer amount of time wasted.
Most of us spend more than 40 hours a week working. Even if you work a “standard” 40 hour work week… if you don’t truly enjoy most of that time and believe in the work you’re doing, and you’re doing it just to get through it, then you’re setting yourself up for heartbreak. …You’re destroying your soul.

Most men would feel insulted if it were proposed
to employ them in throwing stones over a wall,
and then throwing them back again,
merely that they might earn their wages.
But many are no more worthily employed now.
-Henry David Thoreau

2. Long term physical effects.
If your job is stressful, you will certainly suffer physically. Research has shown work stress to be more detrimental to health than other stressors (possibly because of the hours spent at work).
And the opposite of stress—work boredom—is likely to lead to at least a mild depression, which affects you in many physical ways including damage to your heart.
Over decades, boredom and lack of challenge will mean a higher chance of dementia.

3. Long term mental/emotional effects.
Even if you don’t fall into a mild depression, if you aren’t enjoying your work, you’ll probably wind up unhappy at work, and unhappy in general.

4. Lowered productivity and financial consequences.
If you’re not enthused about your work, you’re probably less productive. So you don’t get the promotions, bonuses or better opportunities, and your pocketbook suffers too.

5. Consequences for your company.
Your employer is almost certain less profitable with an unenthused, uninspired workforce.

6. Everyone around you gets the message that it’s OK to have OK work.
Your coworkers pick up on your lack of enthusiasm and are less inspired themselves. They, along with your friends and family, hear once again that “I hate my job” is a normal state. Most affected are your significant other and your children or other children around you. Kids learn best by example, and even if you’re sacrificing for your children, they will probably follow in your footsteps instead of do what they love.

7. Life expresses itself through your creativity.
Your work contains an amazing opportunity to apply your creativity, serve the people around you and experience joy in your life!

And the extra bonus reason:

People who love their work love their life. They have an energy about them that’s palatable… everyone around them absorbs that energy and is positively affected. The entire world benefits!

So if you haven’t already done so, I challenge you to commit to love the work you do, or change your work so that you do work you love.