Stress and burnout can be due to a career path that – deep down – does not make you happy. Sincerely listening to your feelings, daring to discuss them and acting on them…. That takes guts.
The Dutch may be among the happiest citizens in the world, but research by the Ministry of Social Affairs also shows that more than a third of sick leave is due to stress and that one million Dutch people struggle with burnout symptoms. Living according to personal drives can help, says coach and speaker Wout Plevier.
‘By living from personal drives you increase awareness about whether you are still working and living as you would like to. A person who knows his personal motivations can better gauge whether he is still doing the important but perhaps not urgent tasks and not participating in the rat race of speed, performance and results.
Stress and burnout can be due to a career path that – deep down – does not make you happy
Personal drives are your values. Personal drives directly affect your motivation, attitude, preferences and also the things you care about. Your values. ‘They are virtually immutable, but they can change through the influence of time, life experience or through a violent event. Actually, they are created by experiences you have gone through and to which you have come to attach certain beliefs. They determine how you tend to react to certain situations. (Source: Intermediair)
What determines how happy you are? Science shows that differences in happiness in rich, stable countries are determined 40 percent by genetic differences, 10 percent by circumstances (think income) and 50 percent by people’s own choices. Ap Dijksterhuis: “Making others happy is the most effective way to become happy. That is a strategy of all times. But there are several ways. For example, if you have more money than you need, it is better to spend it on experiences than on ‘stuff.’ In addition, try to spend most of your free time actively rather than passively. Try to do things for which you are intrinsically motivated, such as a fun hobby. And when you can incorporate the latter into your work, that’s especially nice.” Dijksterhuis: “Happiness at work actually leans on two different pillars: purpose (meaning that you are doing something good) and fun (having fun in what you are doing). When the two are in balance, you are usually happy in your work. (Source: PW Magazine).
Happiness is also mostly about (daring to) make choices. Following your feelings and living from your personal drives.
Perhaps you feel the need to take your career in a new direction and finally go for that one dream job? If so, please feel free to contact us.
