Work & Meaning

For the most part, work has been traditionally regarded as a “separate” sphere of life (work/life balance) however work is only one aspect of life and only part of a much greater context within which we reside. Therefore, we cannot understand work separate from our existential self; that work must be viewed in terms of its relationship to the formation of who we are. Most scholars agree that a meaningful life is determined by how the individual subjectively experiences his or her “puzzle of life,” and therefore makes sense of his or her life. It is clear there are no absolute answers when it comes to the meaningful life, and that there is more confusion than ever with what is considered a meaningful life. For many people, work is a major, if not the most important, piece of that puzzle. Ultimately, the pieces that make up our lives, especially our work life, must fit coherently together in order for us to feel that life is meaningful.