This question was submitted as part of the Limeade Summer Reading Club where the group is reading Bring Work to Life! and (virtually) discussing work-life. Here’s the detail:

How do I know if I’m fulfilled and satisfied with my current work and life? What questions should I ask myself?

Such a good question! First of all, it’s helpful remind yourself that the responsibility is your own – rather than your employer’s or your partner/spouse’s or your family’s – so I admire that you’re asking the question in the way that you are. While our employer, partner/spouse, and family have roles to play in making a positive contribution to work and life, ultimately it’s really good news that work-life satisfaction is our own responsibility. When the responsibility it our own, it means that we also have the opportunity to Bring our own Work to Life and make choices that foster our fulfillment.

So when you’re taking this ownership and checking in with yourself about whether you’re satisfied and fulfilled with work and life, here are some things to consider:

• To what extent are you inspired/motivated by a broader purpose – something bigger than yourself that you feel connected to? Are there bigger goals that you believe in and want to sign up for?
• To what extent do you feel that your work matters to that broader purpose? There’s usually a chain of contribution here, but ultimately, do you feel that what you’re doing adds up to something in the end?
• In what ways does the organization listen to you? Are you able to give feedback to your boss, the people around you, or the system? To what extent do you feel like your voice matters and affects those around you?
• To what extent do you feel challenged and stimulated? To what extent do you have the opportunity to learn new things regularly?
• To what extent do you feel that your skills and talents are fully utilized? In what ways are they aligned (or not) with the work you’re doing.
• To what extent do you receive feedback from your leader? Is it meaningful and is it helpful to your continuously improving?
• To what extent do you feel you can bring your whole self to your work? Can you be yourself, share about yourself, express yourself?
• To what extent do you have good relationships at work? Do you feel connected to other people around you?
• To what extent do you feel you can disagree and to what extent can the organization handle constructive conflict and healthy debate? (A ship that isn’t going anywhere, doesn’t make any waves.)
• To what extent do you feel valued and appreciated?
• To what extent do you feel positively energized? Is work drudgery that you dread? Or is it generally a positive opportunity to express your gifts and talents in pursuit of a broader goal that you share with others in your organization?

Notice that none of these are yes/no questions. Generally, your answers to these questions will fall on a continuum. In addition, your answers to these questions will likely shift over time. If you’re going through a difficult time, your answers may be less positive. If you’re feeling stretched on a particular project, you may struggle to feel perfectly fulfilled. On the other hand, when you join a brand new team or start a new project, you may be especially energized or go through a bit of a ‘honeymoon period’. These kinds of rises and falls are natural and expected. As you assess your overall satisfaction and fulfillment, it is important to consider your answers to these questions in the aggregate – with an overall picture in mind.

Ultimately, it’s important to own the results of this thought experiment. If you’re not feeling a level of satisfaction and fulfillment that is comfortable, then you’ll want to make choices about what to do next. Can you make recommendations or change things in your current situation? Are there things you can do outside of your workplace or organization to enhance your satisfaction? If not, can you shift roles within your company? Or take steps to make bigger changes in your work situation considering another organization as an alternative? All of these are yours to own and move forward on.

As Dr. Seuss says, “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.”

Best wishes and *onward* with your Bringing Your Work to Life!!

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