Our Quest for Meaning

Summertime is filled with long days, warm nights, and more time outside than most of us are used to. Amidst these golden hours, especially when our toes are buried in the sand or we hear the cicadas chirping in droves, we often find ourselves thinking about the biggest questions in life...

For all of human history, we humans have sought meaning in our lives. We look for it in the stars, in our art, our relationships, in our communities... But what is meaning?

While there are many ways to define meaning, generally, we can look at meaning as the belief that we matter, and that our lives have value because we have contributed to something important that lies outside of ourselves.

For some of us, this means we have raised a family. For others, that we have left behind some contribution or creation.

And for others, it could be the knowledge that we have built and supported a diverse community of friends.

Why is Meaning Important?

A meaningful life and a happy life go hand in hand, but they are different. While happiness is often associated with positive emotions or experiences, meaning can exist even among the most challenging phases of life.

Whenever we're doing something difficult (raising kids, starting a new job, or navigating one of life's many hardships), if we feel our actions are linked to a meaningful outcome outside of ourselves, we feel a sense of meaning.

This meaning, even without present-moment joy, is linked to a more enduring sense of happiness and life satisfaction.

The Impacts of Meaningful Work

Finding and creating meaning in our work is important to all of us, and its impacts in the workplace can't be underestimated. 9 out of 10 workers would trade a percentage of their earnings for a more meaningful job.

In a separate study, 80% of those surveyed would rather have a boss who cared about them finding meaning and success in their work than a 20% salary increase. Workers who rate their job as meaningful are intrinsically motivated to perform better. It's estimated that highly-meaningful work generates an additional $9,078 per employee, per year.

How do you find more meaning in your work?

Every job, no matter the place, work, or people, has its highs and lows. We’ve talked about how the grass can look greener in another pasture, but oftentimes it’s one’s mindset that predicts how rewarding their job or life feels.

So how do we change our mindset about our given circumstances? Here’s what the experts say to focus on: (From HBR)

Offset Negativity

We often experience different job or life-related stressors throughout the day, and each of these can eat away at our sense of purpose and drive. To combat small stressors, try to find small moments of pleasure or joy during your day. Flipping through a favorite book, taking a quick nature walk, eating a tasty snack, or flipping through old photos can all help reduce the accumulated weight of everyday stressors.

Practice Self-Compassion

We’re sorry to say it, but some days have a downward spiral that slap away your self-confidence or sense of purpose. On those days, it's critical to feel compassion for your situation. It’s okay to say, “hey, today was terrible and I’m at about 5% right now, but I’m glad I got through it and I’m grateful to simply get home and go to bed.” Practicing compassion and gratitude can help us get back to a more balanced perspective and ignite a chain of positive thoughts and emotions.

Looking to build self-compassion within your team? Check out our Self-Compassion Wellness Workshop by viewing the full workshop menu.

Reflecting on Your Values

Understanding your values and how your work aligns or does not align with your values is key to feeling a sense of meaning and purpose within your work and life. Ask yourself a few key questions like, “What drives me? What am I good at doing? What projects am I excited about? What contributions do I wish to make at my company, in my community, or to others in general? See how your work or community aligns with your answers.

Offer Assistance

Finding meaning in your workplace can come in a variety of forms, including being helpful to colleagues in or outside of your team or division. Helping a struggling team member with their workload, offering mentorship to a junior employee, or setting up a connection-building team event are all ways to feel like you are meaningfully contributing to something greater than yourself.

Be Grateful for Colleagues

Showing gratitude for your team members can have immediate and meaningful benefits. Moments of connection with colleagues, whether virtual or in-person, can ground us and “provide a counterbalance to the negativity that crisis and uncertainty generate.”

Looking for tools and practices to help incorporate gratitude into your team’s daily habits? Check out our Gratitude Wellness Workshop by viewing the full workshop menu.

Finding meaning, purpose, and direction is a lifelong pursuit. However, using the practices above and the knowledge that most workers are seeking meaning over financial incentives can help HR teams and senior leaders build a workplace culture that emphasizes connection, gratitude, and meaningful work.