A : Activities that are productive and creative, which
make you feel connected to the world at large – studies, work,
career, sport, hobbies, etc. Achievement gives us a sense of satisfaction
and a sense of meaning in our lives.
Q :No
matter what I accomplish, I do not seem to satisfy my need to do
more or to be better. I did my job well but quit because I felt
unfulfilled. I went and joined a humanitarian organization but still
feel that I am not amounting to much. I am now thinking of starting
my own firm. What do you think?
A : The meaning people find in what they do, from the moment
they wake up to the moment they go to sleep, plays a role in how
they feel about themselves. A person may gain more satisfaction
from playing a mean game of tennis than from writing a best-seller.
An unrecognized artisan, who finds what he does meaningful and rewarding,
may reap greater rewards than the recipient of a prize who is never
happy with whatever she accomplishes. To feel good about yourself
depends not only on your objective job or work environment but on
the subjective meaning you attribute to your work. Rather than continuously
changing jobs, I would suggest that you first understand how achievement
is an indirect quest to be admired, respected, and loved for doing
something difficult and meaningful with your life.
