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A meaningful job is only a part of building a meaningful life. The questions your asking may be a sign your placing too much existential weight on a job instead

by jlos 5y ago

A meaningful job is only a part of building a meaningful life. The questions your asking may be a sign your placing too much existential weight on a job instead of actively working to have a meaningful life in every aspect. Are you actively building meaningful relationships, maintaining the old ones and seeking out new ones? Are you involved in communities around shared values? Do you invest in personal goals outside your career (hobbies, music, art, etc)? Are you challenging yourself physically in some sport or activity your passionate about? Work is a big part of the picture, but if you are focused on growing intellectually, socially, spiritually, and physically (whatever those may look like to you) a job takes a much smaller role.

amelius 5y ago
> A meaningful job is only a part of building a meaningful life. Yeah, but an important part, often close to 1/2 of your waking life (minus commute and chores and such). A well-balanced life can only be achieved with a satisfactory job that is meaningful. You don't want to tell your grandchildren that what you did in this world is make people click more ads, regardless of how juicy the tech was at that time.
- jlos 5y ago
  Agree work is important; A bad job can really suck the life out of you like nothing else, totally true. I'm definitely not advocating staying in jobs you hate! >> A well-balanced life can only be achieved with a satisfactory job that is meaningful. I partially agree but add the bigger question is *what is meaningful*? No job is inherently meaningful. A BS job might be fine for a time if it fulfills a bigger goal. A great job could be pointless if you have no direction in your life. >> You don't want to tell your grandchildren that what you did in this world is make people click more ads, regardless of how juicy the tech was at that time. I see what your getting at, but I still think it's a framing problem. Seeing "what you did in the world" as the outcome of your job is exactly what I mean by placing too much existential weight on your job. I'm fine telling my grandkids I slung ads if it satisfied my goal of intellectual development and funded the lifestyle I wanted for myself and my family

by jlos 5y ago

amelius 5y ago

> A meaningful job is only a part of building a meaningful life. Yeah, but an important part, often close to 1/2 of your waking life (minus commute and chores and such). A well-balanced life can only be achieved with a satisfactory job that is meaningful. You don't want to tell your grandchildren that what you did in this world is make people click more ads, regardless of how juicy the tech was at that time.

jlos 5y ago
Agree work is important; A bad job can really suck the life out of you like nothing else, totally true. I'm definitely not advocating staying in jobs you hate! >> A well-balanced life can only be achieved with a satisfactory job that is meaningful. I partially agree but add the bigger question is *what is meaningful*? No job is inherently meaningful. A BS job might be fine for a time if it fulfills a bigger goal. A great job could be pointless if you have no direction in your life. >> You don't want to tell your grandchildren that what you did in this world is make people click more ads, regardless of how juicy the tech was at that time. I see what your getting at, but I still think it's a framing problem. Seeing "what you did in the world" as the outcome of your job is exactly what I mean by placing too much existential weight on your job. I'm fine telling my grandkids I slung ads if it satisfied my goal of intellectual development and funded the lifestyle I wanted for myself and my family