In his book The Four Purposes of Life – Finding Meaning and Direction in a Changing World, Dan Millman writes about satisfying work. His view on the subject can be applied to a paid job, volunteer work, doing something you are passionate about like painting or hiking, raising a family, mowing the lawn or anything else you do in life.

“What you do matters, but how you do it matters even more. Fulfillment lies not in the work itself but in the quality and care you bring to it.” – Dan Millman

When I read the above, it really resonated with me. How many of us do something and don’t put our whole heart into it?  It can be cleaning the house or taking out the trash. When we complain about it, it makes that task seem even harder. Would it not be better if we just accepted the task for what it is and did our best to complete it? I know when I accept a task I feel better about myself and the job. The bonus is that when you do, the task seems to take less time to complete and with less stress.

I have a friend who hates her job. She is always complaining about it. In fact, she just said “I have been at this company for (bleeped out) 8 years.” The funny thing is that she is very good at what she does. And when you start asking her about her work, (after she gets past the complaining), you can see there is pride, passion and knowledge in her work.

What if she looked at her job in a different way? Maybe she could find some compassion for her co-workers, boss and clients? Maybe if she could set her complaints aside she would see that there is something there to like? f she focused on the positive instead of the negative, then her job would not make her so stressed out. Everyone has something in their jobs or lives that they don’t like. But what we focus on we attract. The Law of Attraction and the Law of Cause and Effect are always at work. Like attracts like. So do you want to attract positive or negative thoughts, emotions, and events back to you? Be a leader by setting a positive example and you can influence others in a valuable and wonderful way. People do notice what you do.

I do believe that our attitude and expectations affects how we experience the world. The past is what it is but we can have better expectations of the future and when we do that I believe our attitude can change for the better. Work at keeping your thoughts and emotions positive when you lean towards the negative. If you can’t get to positive, at least get to neutral. And I don’t mean to be happy-go-lucky all the time, (but wouldn’t that be great!), but don’t live in Pity City. You can visit there but you can’t live there!

Always put your best foot and intentions forward. Care about what you do and and inspire others. Be the inspiration you want to see in the world! When you do, your life will be happier because of it. Live well!

“If a man is called to be a street sweeper,

he should sweep streets even as a Michelangelo painted,

or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry.

He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say,

‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.” – Martin Luther King Jr.