Consider Your Lifeview and Workview

If you’re like most young people, it’s hard to figure out what you’re going to do for your career. If you already have it figured out, that’s great! But, many of us need to thoughtfully think through our career steps.

If you are still searching and considering what you might do, we have a few recommended exercises to start to think things through. In this next exercise, we draw inspiration from Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life.

Workview

Your workview is how you define work, what work means to you, and what’s important about working. These are your answers to the questions:

• Why should I work?
• What is work for?
• What does working mean?
• How does it relate to me? to my culture? to my family? to my society?
• What is “good” work?
• Does work have to make me happy on a day-to-day basis while I’m working?
• What does money have to do with work?
• Do I need to feel growth in my work?
• Does work need to align with who I am as a person?

There are no right or wrong answers! This is highly personal. Influences from your family, culture, or background may be important. Or, it may not be important.

Consider these of very different types of workviews:

Julia, 21: Why do we work? This question often swirls in my mind as a young adult stepping into the vast world of employment. To me, work is more than a means to an end; it’s a journey towards finding purpose and making a difference. Work is a tool for contributing to society. It’s not just about clocking in hours and earning a paycheck; it’s about the impact we create. Whether it’s through providing services, innovating solutions, or simply being a cog in a larger machine, our work leaves imprints on the fabric of society. It’s how we as individuals contribute to a collective goal, bettering the world in our unique ways. In the context of my family, work is a testament to our values and legacy. My parents have always emphasized the importance of hard work not for material gain, but for personal growth and societal contribution. Their dedication to meaningful work, irrespective of monetary rewards, has deeply influenced my perception of a fulfilling career. But what defines worthwhile work? For me, it’s about aligning with my ideals and aspirations to foster positive change. A job isn’t just a job if it resonates with my inner beliefs and allows me to contribute to something greater than myself. It’s about growth, experience, and fulfillment. Money, while necessary to survive, is not the focal point of my career aspirations. I believe in pursuing paths that enrich me intellectually and spiritually, rather than just financially. Do I have to enjoy work every day? Not necessarily. Enjoyment in work is not a constant; it fluctuates. There will be challenging days, but the overarching sense of purpose and the fulfillment of contributing to a cause I believe in makes it all worthwhile. This idealistic outlook might seem naive to some, but to me, it’s the essence of a meaningful career – one where passion and purpose converge.

Sam, 23: Employment is straightforward: it’s a stepping stone to achieving recognition, wealth, and power. My focus is on the tangible rewards of what work can bring. Why work? The answer is simple: to gain influence and financial success. In today’s world, one’s status, both socially and economically, is often measured by their professional achievements and wealth. This reality shapes my approach to work. It’s a means to an end – the end being a position of power and a lifestyle that commands respect and admiration from others. For me, work’s significance lies in its ability to elevate my social standing. It’s not about finding joy in daily tasks or aligning with personal values; it’s about climbing the corporate ladder as efficiently as possible. The type of work matters less than the prestige and wealth it can bring. I see work as a competitive arena where individuals strive for dominance and recognition. It’s a game of strategic moves, networking, and seizing opportunities that can catapult one to the top. Regarding my family, their expectations of success play a significant role in my career choices. Achieving financial prosperity and becoming famous in my field is not just a personal goal but also a way to honor my family’s aspirations for me. What defines worthwhile work? In my view, it’s simple: high-paying, high-status jobs that offer the fastest route to wealth and influence. Money is the central element of work because it’s the key to unlocking doors to power and a luxurious lifestyle. Growth, experience, and fulfillment are secondary to the primary objective of amassing wealth and recognition. While personal development is important, it’s viewed through the lens of how it can further my ambitions. Job satisfaction takes a back seat to the benefits the job offers in terms of money and status. The ultimate goal is to reach a position where I am widely recognized, influential, and wealthy, and if that means enduring less enjoyable aspects of work, so be it.

Lifeview

Your lifeview is similar to your workview, except focuses on the things that matter to you in life. It’s what matters most to you.

Consider your lifeview to answer questions like:

• What’s the meaning or purpose of life?
• What’s good? What’s bad?
• Why are we here?
• What’s the relationship between being an individual and the people around us?
• Where does family fit in? Where does society fit in? Where does country fit in?
• Is there a higher power that’s important to you?
• What role does religion or spirituality have on your life?
• What’s the role of happiness, sadness, joy, pain, justice, love, peace in life?

Again, there are no right or wrong answers here! This is all about what’s important to you in life at this stage of your life. The goal in writing your lifeview is to be honest with yourself. This is your time to get down in writing what’s important to you in how you live.

Now that you’ve learned what workviews and lifeviews are, it’s your turn to write yours.