happiness at work

[happythoughts 0]

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What do we want out of life and work? What makes us happy and drives us to do our best?

Dr. Steven Reiss, a professor of psychology and psychiatry at Ohio State University and author of Who am I? The 16 Basic Desires that Motivate our Actions and Define our Personalities, has found that happiness and life-satisfaction stem not from experiencing pleasure and avoiding pain, but from a sense that our lives have meaning and fulfill a larger purpose. He calls this "value-based happiness" and says we experience it when we satisfy our intrinsic desires.

Though the actual Reiss Profiles contains more than 100 questions, Reiss agreed to let us use this simplified version to help you identify what you want out of life and work:

Read the following statements about each basic desire. If they strongly describe you mark "+," if they somewhat describe you mark "0," and if they apply to you very little mark "-":

1. Curiosity. I have a thirst for knowledge.

2. Acceptance. I have a hard time coping with criticism.

3. Order. It upsets me when things are out of place.

4. Physical Activity. Physical fitness is very important to me.

5. Honor. I am a highly principled and loyal person.

6. Power. I often seek leadership roles.

7. Independence. Self-reliance is essential to my happiness.

8. Social Contact. I am known as a fun-loving person.

9. Family. My children come first.

10. Status. I am impressed by people who own expensive things.

11. Idealism. Compared with most people, I am very concerned with social causes.

12. Vengeance. It is very important to me to get even with those who insult or offend me.

13. Romance. Compared with my peers, I spend much more time pursuing or having sex.

14. Eating. I love to eat and often fantasize about food.

15. Saving. I hate throwing things away.

16. Tranquility. It scares me when my heart beats rapidly.

Now, look at your "plus" items. These are your priorities, and you should have five or six of them.

"Once you know your deepest values, one of the best ways to become happier is to find work that fulfills them," says Reiss. "For example, if you shun power or don't like to lead, you would be unhappy managing a large staff.

"If you have a high desire for acceptance, don't choose a job that exposes you to a lot of evaluation and criticism. If you prize order, look for a vocation that involves minimal ambiguity. If you're a curious person, find work that makes you think."

Reiss cites how a desire for status and competition drives many stockbrokers. He suggests that when evaluating a job, you understand the kinds of tasks you will be doing throughout the day, week and year. Compare those to your top desires to make sure what you will be doing each day will be a source of happiness.

But he cautions it's not just the work itself; ideally your value system should match that of the industry, the company and your boss, too. For example, Julie, who identified her highest desires as honor, social contact, eating, idealism and curiosity, loved her job as a sales associate for a major food manufacturer until she got a boss who routinely cut corners and urged her to lie to clients and superiors.

"To do well in a career and enjoy life, people need to be in a job and work environment that are compatible with their intrinsic desires," concludes Reiss. "By repeatedly doing those things that fulfill your values, there is no limit to how meaningful and happy your life can be."

Since my personal work-goals weren't on there, I spent some time identifying them and then tried to find a job that fits.

17. late nights drinking and partying
18. thongs
19. suntan oil
20. socializing

I've decided that "oil-application specialist" for the Hawaiin Tropic bikini team is perfect.

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[gmanpilot 0]

ELEMENTS OF JOB GRATIFICATION

1. The task is challenging and requires skill.
2. You have deep, effortless involvement.
3. You get immediate feedback.
4. There is a sense of control.
5. Your sense of self vanishes.
6. There are clear goals.
7. You concentrate.
8. Time stops.

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-There's always free cheese in a mouse trap.

[sunshine 2]

Oh Bill, you had me at hello.

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meow

I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug!

[bob.dino 1]

That I like.

[happythoughts 0]

You are so sexy when you say that.

[flyangel2 2]

Wow, I thought this was going to be a post about you being at work.

What was I thinking? You work!

May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey