When the economy is good we never think about having a plan B for our income source. We never think about taking college level classes, starting a new job in a new field, or doing something that fits our interests and talents. We go to work, and we do our little job. Some days some of us find great satisfaction in doing our job whatever that is.

When the economy is unhealthy, as it is right now, we start reaching for straws. Suddenly whatever plan B we have, if we have any, does not look too promising. Our current job suddenly increases in value both internally and externally for us. It becomes enjoyable to get out of bed in the morning and have a job to go to. We may realize that we enjoy parts of our job, but we were so busy complaining, and/or thinking how unsatisfied we are to realize just how much our little job means to us.

As time goes on our little job has lost its luster, and soon our little job is back to being as bad as it ever was. Once again we are dissatisfied with what we are ‘forced’ to do for a living. We are starting to dislike getting out of bed in the morning, and heading off to work. We do not care all that much for what we do, and we think about doing something different.

Those key elements that make our work or our job so important in the present moment with a bad economy were also present when the economy was good. I do not think it is that hard to find satisfaction in our present job – if we are lucky enough to have a job right now. I do not think it was too hard to find satisfaction in our work before the economy took a nosedive.

Whatever we do for a living is called work. Work by definition means physical or mental effort in order to achieve a purpose or result. It does not mean we enjoy every moment of our day. The idea that we enjoy even a part of our work is something to be thankful for.

We need to look back to the day we were hired. What made us excited to be working at the job we now have? What feelings were present which we killed off, or allowed others to kill off in us? What extrinsic things is our work doing for us? Is it paying for our home, and car, and the food we eat? Does our work allow our children to be in college, either presently or someday?

Every emotion that was present when we found out we are going to be at what will became our job, whether external or internal to us, are reasons we need to be mindful each morning the alarm clock goes off. The mere fact that we hear an alarm clock in the morning is a luxury. Everything our work provides for us, after the shutting off our alarm clock continues through the day and into the night. Bring them back into your life, and reflect on them daily.

Make your job meaningful once again, which is the least it deserves if consider the alternatives. Take a quick check of your situation. If there was better work out there for you to to do, you would already be doing it. Because you are not doing something different than the work you have, it probably does not exist. Or possibly or you are satisfied with your work.

Look at yourself in the mirror and see look at your clothes, you earned them with your job. Your first meal, no matter how simple or elegant was paid for with money from your job. Look at everything in your life that costs money, your job paid for it. Take a little pride in your job, it is the only job you have. Treat your work with respect, whatever it is. Everything you have is likely a result of your job. Be proud of your work, and it will give you many more returns.