At work, there are things we “have to” do. And there are things we “get to do”.
These days, we can easily find our time fill up with the “have to’s”. Day-to-day operations, rote but necessary managerial tasks, and habitual bad habits we fall into make it easy to begin and end days consumed and frustrated by the monotonous faint pulse of “work”.
This is not what I signed up for, and certainly doesn’t feed my passion. But I can do something about it, so I do.
Knowing what energizes me and reignites my sense of purpose, I:
• Do difficult things. Starting the day well before sunrise, with a routine, and tackling difficult tasks to start each morning reminds me I can and do hard things.
• Take “the scenic route” to work. Watching the sunrise as I drive slowly past the beach feeds the soul.
• Listen to words that inspire me. Whether it’s music, a podcast, or messages from friends who I count on to frame my thinking for the day, this helps me to reflect on my purpose, often with a smile on my face.
• Embrace spontaneous and fleeting interactions. Greeting people with a wave, a smile, or a quick “hello” or “good morning”, helping people with “a quick question”, or having an exchange as people head towards their destination energizes and sets the tone for the day.
• Carve out time to help others. Whether “on the fly” or as part of a scheduled sit-down, face-to-fact interactions are good for us all. For as much as this may help those seeking it from me, these opportunities spark my purpose and passion for serving others.
With attention and intention, I’ve managed to build these priorities into the flow of my workday. And while there are days that are sometimes filled with tasks beyond my control, committing to things within my control keep me focused on what really matters.
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