How job fulfillment creates greater joy
September 25, 2024
Have you ever heard the phrase “love what you do, and you’ll never work a day in your life”? While that might not be entirely true — building a career you love DOES take work — the essence is the same: Like what you do and you’ll be excited to come to work every day, develop solutions to new challenges and learn more. There is always a positive drive from passion.
Feeling fulfilled at work is an overall productivity booster. It’s simple. If you’re feeling motivated at work, that positive energy is carried over into other parts of your life. Passion and interest create an eagerness to learn and grow within your role. You take more initiative and become in-tune with your position because you care about what you do and who you work for. You feel motivated to work every day, to discover solutions and grow the brand. Obstacles become interesting challenges. Your overall happiness grows. People take notice. You might even get a raise or promotion.
According to Psychology Today, “‘The positivity effect’ is a psychological phenomenon whereby positive emotions and thoughts increase positive self-perceptions and improve self-esteem. This, in turn, leads to improved performance, which then reinforces positive emotions and thoughts.” Essentially, positive emotions about what you do amplify your general positivity, contributing to other benefits in your daily life.
At work, the positive cycle of job fulfillment to overall happiness also has some bonuses. A pleasant attitude and drive can create more career opportunities. A study from the University of Pennsylvania found that positive thinkers were six times more likely to be highly engaged at work, five times less likely to experience burnout, and 40% more likely to be promoted. This gives happy people a huge lead over others, fueling future success and even greater happiness.
For employers, the researchers at the National Institute of Health have found that employees who enjoy the work they do have a better attitude at work, leading to higher retention rates. The study shows significant opposition to traditional theories that life purpose has no effect over job performance. When you do something you enjoy, you want to keep doing it.
And yet, building a career you love, that brings personal fulfillment and joy into your life, takes a lot of professional training and work. No one just wakes up as a software engineer. That’s where Brandeis Online comes in.
At Brandeis Online, academic rigor is at the core of everything we do. Our online programs are crafted by esteemed faculty who are experts in their fields, ensuring that you receive a world-class education that is both intellectually stimulating and professionally relevant. And with an average pay increase of 25% after graduation, we know employers see the value in our programs too.
Contact our admissions team at online@brandeis.edu to learn more about the programs we offer and what earning a master’s degree or master’s certificate can do for you.