What is Labor Day?
For most, it’s a long weekend away from work and maybe a chance to wallow in the fact that summer is finally over; the kids are back to school and the routine has returned.
The anticipation of Memorial Day and celebration of Independence Day have faded into the drudging reality of Labor Day. It’s almost like President Grover Cleveland knew this when he signed the holiday into law back in 1887. I can hear him, under his breath say, “Congratulations, you get one last holiday. Now, get back to work.”
Difficult clients that frequent my office
What About Work
Truthfully, Labor Day was created to celebrate the contributions laborers have made to the strength and prosperity of our country. However, I don’t see many people celebrating. Actually, all too often, I hear the opposite.
Words like day-job and grind litter our language when describing our work. I hear people talking about their dream-job and their passion, but rarely do people admit to living them.
Truthfully, I think your dream-job and your passion will continue to elude you if you can’t learn to embrace what you now call, the grind. If you fall into the trap of thinking that some other job or some other destination will hold the keys to contentment, I believe you’re mistaken. I’d be remiss to say that you have to be satisfied, but you can be grateful.
In fact, I believe gratitude may just be the key to bring your dream-job to life.
As a small business owner writing my first book, I speak from experience.
Finding Gratitude in The Grind
1. What you do matters
You were created with amazing talents and abilities. How are you using them? Are you being a good steward of the skill-set that has been entrusted to you? I believe this recognition is the first stepping stone to gratitude.
Everyone has a unique role that matters tremendously. Someone built the chair you’re sitting in, the house you’re living in, and the computer you’re reading this on. Someone harvested those coffee beans, packaged them, and placed them on the shelf. Everyone’s work contributes to a bigger picture. Find your value as a way to learn gratitude for where you are rather than longing for where you’re not.
2. Learn to be grateful for what others do
When you learn to be grateful for what you do, it gives you encouragement for what others do for you. Embracing the importance that you matter gives you strength to know that others do as well. Who can you thank for their work in your life? I often engage conversation with hotel clerks, baristas, and cashiers simply to say, thank you. Don’t miss an opportunity to be grateful for that person who is serving your needs.
Gratitude is contagious.
3. Use your work
Work provides an opportunity for you to engage those around you. You are always engaging, the question is how. If we’re honest, this is a missed opportunity for most of us. Now I’m not suggesting that you have to be best friends with your co-workers, but consider how you are impacting them. The smallest act of appreciation or the simplest word of encouragement can brighten a dark work environment.
It’s your responsibility to be the light.
From my conversations during life coaching sessions and a quick read social media feeds, I get the feeling that a lot of you are struggling with this. If you don’t like where you are, you have choices to make. I say the first choice is gratitude.
Now don’t misunderstand me. Gratitude, in no way, implies complacency. It is an attitude with which you approach your circumstances. I would go so far to say that your ingratitude has you stuck right where you are.
The road to your dream-job begins with being grateful for your job today.
QUESTION: Where do you work?
MH
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