Where are you in your career journey?

Think about a typical workday. When you get up in the morning, how do you feel about going to work? What is your excitement level? What kinds of emotions fill up your mind?

Consider some of the thoughts and feelings that often pops-up in a work-life situation.

• Your job lacks challenge and excitement for you.
• You are feeling unappreciated.
• You sense that your job is not secure.
• You are no longer enjoying the work.
• Your growth opportunities are limited.
• Your learning is replaced with routine.
• You sense that you are wasting your skills and talents.
• You are suffering from stress or depression.
• You are feeling that your work is not adding much meaning to your life.
• You feel that you are not adding much value to the organization.

Do any of these feelings are real for you? Have you thought about how it affects your life?

These feelings impact your health as it increases your stress levels, makes you frustrated, and anxious. We contribute a significant part of our life to work. On a typical working day, we spend more than 33% of our time at work. And we need to be aware of how work occupies a significant amount of our mind space.

Three years back, when I met one of my friends, I casually inquired about his work. He responded by saying that he is not satisfied with his work and planning to take some action. He was getting a decent salary, but he talked about other issues bothering him at his workplace.

Recently I met him again, and when I inquired about his work, I realized that nothing has changed in his situation. He reiterated that he is thinking about taking some action.

It is surprising to see how people live with these issues for several years without addressing them. Career dreams are one thing; practical reality is often another.

Let's look at some of the fundamental needs of a working professional. Fulfilling these needs create positive emotions in our life.

• Sense of Achievement
• Sense of Satisfaction
• Sense of Purpose
• Sense of Meaning
• Self-Development
• Career Growth
• Recognition

Gallup has identified twelve foundational elements of employee engagement. Gallup uses these questions extensively in their surveys to assess the employee engagement levels in the organization.

It is interesting to see that majority of these questions are on career growth, development, strengths utilization, recognition of work, others’ perception, being heard, and social support that is in line with the above needs that create positive emotions.

People suffer from negative emotions resulting from work-life situations silently for a long time.