the paradox of job happiness

Want to discover an insight about happiness that will only cost you forty pesos?

Don’t worry. Half of that amount will go back to you. No, I won’t be getting the other half.

Here’s the thing: Spend twenty pesos to buy your favorite ice cream and eat it. Feels heavenly, right? Especially if it’s chocolate.

Now get another twenty pesos. Only this time, use it for an act of kindness to a total stranger. For example, when you see a street kid selling sampaguita flowers, buy all his stock. Then let him keep the flowers so he can sell them to someone else.

Guess which one will put a wider smile on your face?

That’s right.

The insight is that happiness is a by-product.

Chase happiness itself and it will elude you. Do something meaningful for others and happiness will embrace you.

Are you groaning (again) at the prospect of going to work? Is your job something you are enduring rather than enjoying? Perhaps your mantra is “If only I have the right job, I will be happy.”

This is the paradox of job happiness.

Don’t expect your job to make you happy. Rather, do your job to give value to others and happiness will follow.

Focus on excellence and satisfaction will well up within you.

Go an extra mile for your boss or client and his delight will be yours as well.

Learn skills beyond your job description and you will unleash the thrill of exploration.

Today, survey your workplace with a fresh pair of eyes. There is a gold mine of joy waiting for you. You just need to know where to dig. Emotional treasures will soon yield themselves to you.

This article was first published on LinkedIn. Connect with me for the latest articles.

Photo by Ali Yahya on Unsplash