It seems that deep down, almost all of us want to do meaningful work, but we look at it the wrong way. We think that meaningful work is work that somehow gives our lives meaning. As I have thought about this, it seems to be putting the destination ahead of the journey.
How can we expect our work, or the output of our work, to give us any kind of deep existential meaning, if we do not treat the work – the act of doing the work – as having any kind of meaning?
The first step toward finding meaningful work for our lives might just be to discover the meaning in the work that we are doing. Do not let something outside of you determine how meaningful it is. Treat every aspect of your work as meaningful, and you will begin to find meaning.