Jobs for ultimate fulfillment

So how do you find that elusive goldmine of personal happiness and joy?

That job, that mission that fulfills you, so that "no day in your life will ever be work again", as the catchy slogan goes?

Pretty much everyone, from personal development speakers to the richest and most successful people in the world says that it is massively important to have a job that is aligned with your passion and mission in life because that gives you the juice to keep going when things are tough, and it gives you the fulfillment of having contributed to something larger than yourself - and that ultimately leads to a happy and joyful life.

So people leave their dreary 9-5 jobs to find this goldmine.

There is just one problem - and that is a misconception: as the job is supposed to lead to a happy life, they all think that the job must therefore be fun.

It's what I thought, too.

But is that really true?

Is that really what they are saying?

I don't think so, but it's an easy mistake to make because it is promoted by people trying to sell products to help you find that job, as selling the truth is somewhat more difficult.

So what do people do?

They try to make their hobby their profession thinking that will lead them to fulfillment.

For a few people that works, if they find a deeper reason for doing that job on the way, but for most it is a disaster - either they never make it, or they end up poor and destitute, or they end up hating that hobby that they used to love, and now, as they have made that hobby their job, they don't even have a fun hobby anymore to take their mind off things. Or it just feels empty.

And that's because "fun" is really a self-centered goal that leads nowhere.

It is not the same as happy or joyful.

For those who found a job that is ultimately fulfilling it's mostly not the work itself that's fun.

It's the outcome.

The job may include fun bits, or bits that give great significance, fame, and money, but even the coolest jobs include a lot of bits that suck or are even damaging to the person's health - acting in dramas being one of them.

Think about it.

Who do you know has lived a successful and, from what you can tell, fulfilled life?

What was their job from day to day? Is that what you'd choose as a fun job?

Mother Teresa - sit with the dying

Warren Buffett - read financial reports all day long

Tony Robbins - talk to difficult, depressed people all day, sell, deal with politics

A top medical surgeon - deal with people's entrails all day long

Actors/Rockstar - 80% sales, most of the rest is memorizing lines, and dealing with politics

Conservationists - seeing animals in pain all day and trying to get people who don't listen to stop hurting them

The outcome may be amazing and fun, especially for you, if it is a public performance. It may be rewarding and absolutely fulfilling - but not because of the mechanics of the actual job, but because of the larger purpose that drives them to do this.

And if that purpose is present, almost any work involved can be fulfilling.

So don't beat yourself up if your job isn't fun.

You haven't missed your life because of it.

Just look for that larger purpose, that purpose beyond yourself, the mission that you would die for - and then live for it, and do whatever work is needed to get you there.

Sometimes that means doing a non-related job to get the money to start or to keep funding that mission. Sometimes it means doing a part of the job that really isn't fun at all for you and finding fulfillment in it by relating it to the higher purpose you are working towards. And yes, sometimes it means enjoying the outcome - the fruits of your labor, say cuddling the rescued animal, looking at the child's face that you saved, enjoying a great spa day from the money you made, or enjoying standing on stage and bathing in the energy of the crowd or enjoying the title or the reward you got.

But most of the time, work will still be work. It just won't feel like it, at least not all the time, if it serves the greater good.