A Job That is More Than A Job 

A Great Idea …

“Scholars distinguish three kinds of ‘work orientation:’a job, a career, and a calling. You do a job for the paycheck at the end of the week…A career entails deeper personal investment in work. You mark your achievement through money, but also through advancement…A calling(or vocation) is a passionate commitment to do work for its own sake. Individuals with a calling see their work as contributing to the greater good, to something larger than they are.” (Psychologist Martin E. P. Seligman in his book, Authentic Happiness, p. 168)

In Other Words …

Often the way we feel about our job is related to the importance we place on the work. If we feel like we aren’t making a difference in the world, we will see work as merely a job or a paycheck. If, on the other hand, we can find meaning in our jobs and can see that we are making the world a better place, then we are better able to view them as callings and feel energized by them.

How this Applies to You …

How does your work make the world a better place? Is there a way you can modify your work to make it more of a calling for you? Do you need to change your work to be more in line with your passions?

To Find Out More …

For excellent (and free!) programs on improving your personal well being, check out The Personal Journey and Managing Stress at www.arfamilies.org.

For more information on improving your strengths, we recommend Authentic Happiness by Martin E. P. Seligman or Positivity by Barbara Fredrickson.