Meaningful work or not? Is your self-worth wrapped up in your job? 🤔

From the moment we ask kids what they want “TO BE” when they grow up we plant the seek that the dream job is the ultimate goal. But what does a dream job mean? Is it about meaningful work, work we enjoy on a daily basis or simply something that makes us money and gives us freedom? The answer is not surprising. As it is different to each and every person on this planet.

What is Meaningful Work (And Why Do We Crave It)?

Let’s face it—work is a huge chunk of our lives. If we’re going to spend so much time doing it, it better mean something, right? But what exactly is “meaningful work”? Is it curing diseases? Building rocket ships? Or could it be as simple as helping someone else, creating something beautiful, or just feeling good about how you spend your days?

At its core, meaningful work is about connection. It’s the feeling that what you’re doing matters—to you, to others, or to the world. It’s the barista who makes your latte with a smile, knowing they’ve brightened your morning. It’s the software engineer designing a tool that makes someone’s life easier. It’s the teacher who sees the spark in a student’s eye when they finally “get it.” Meaningful work isn’t tied to a job title or a paycheck—it’s tied to purpose.

But here’s the twist: meaningful work doesn’t have to change the world to matter. Sometimes, it’s about changing your world. It’s about knowing that you’re using your unique skills, passions, and energy in a way that feels right to you. That could mean volunteering for a cause you love, mentoring a colleague, or simply making sure you leave work each day feeling proud of what you’ve done.

The beauty of meaningful work is that it’s deeply personal. What feels meaningful to one person might feel mundane to another. And that’s okay. The goal isn’t to have someone else validate your work—it’s to find work that aligns with your values, brings you joy, or makes you feel like you’re contributing to something bigger than yourself.

So, what is meaningful work? It’s whatever makes you wake up in the morning with purpose. It’s the work that feels like it fits, like it matters. And maybe it’s a reminder that, in the grand scheme of things, we all want to leave our little mark on the world—even if it’s just one smile at a time.

When you Meet Someone New

What’s one of the first questions you generally ask when you meet someone new? After “Where are you from?”, it’s usually followed up by “What do you do?”. This is usually not directed at what that person is passionate about, or what they like to do for fun- it’s a question to figure out what they do for work.

Have you stopped to think about why? Whether consciously or unconsciously what we do for work is being judged- by others, but more importantly, we judge ourselves more.

I’ve asked the question several times and it makes me cringe when I hear people drop their heads and say something like “Oh I JUST do this for now” with visible shame because it’s not a ‘high status’ or highly paid job.

My follow-up low is “Do you enjoy it, Are you happy?” And if they answer yes then that’s fantastic as there are so many people who can’t say the same thing. And I can almost guarantee a lot of those unhappy in their jobs are getting paid a lot more.

Simone Stolzoff argues in his latest book that many wrap up their identities with their jobs which damages happiness, well-being, and even professional success. 

Rather than treat work as a calling or a dream, he suggests reframing work as part of life rather than our lives being centred around work.

This made me stop and think, as I often promote that people find a remote job that’s fulfilling and pays well. But does it need to be fulfilling? Or is a job that allows you the freedom to live life outside of work the way you want to? 

What do you think? Are you happy with any remote job and a salary? Or do you need something more?

Now, here’s a highlight of this week's 100% remote jobs👇

Wanna see more? 

More Remote Jobs

Stay rebellious,

Michelle

This week’s newsletter was inspired by an episode of The Happiness Podcast and by Simone Stolzoff, author of ‘The Good Enough Job’.