It makes very depressing and uninspiring reading; I don't want to think of my life as being consumed by work. I think you just need a slightly different angle:

It makes very depressing and uninspiring reading; I don't want to think of my life as being consumed by work. I think you just need a slightly different angle: many happy people have a driving project or belief that inspires them. I think that's what you meant to say. And it's different from "work", which is a four letter synonym for drudgery.