The Importance of Loving Yourself and the Work You Do
Have you ever heard of the Japanese word Ikigai? It’s a philosophy of life that seeks to find the exact point where what you love, what you are good at, what you can earn your living from and what the world needs from you meet. The point where these states overlap, plus a few others that are illustrated in what is now a very famous Venn diagram, is your Ikigai.
As we are about to celebrate Valentine’s Day on February 14th, let’s talk a bit about love. But not love for others – love for yourself. Loving yourself is essential, not only to living a full life, but also to enjoying the work you do. That self-love is what will lead you to find the magic point that the Japanese call Ikigai.
The importance of enjoying the work you do
Working at something you don’t enjoy can lead to high levels of stress and a general feeling of discomfort. Not all of us have the chance to work at a job that we are passionate about, many of us have jobs that simply put food on the table.
It’s obvious that if you work doing something that makes you happy, it’s easier to enjoy the day-to-day tasks and duties of your job. But how do you enjoy your work if you are not passionate about it? Well, the key is in you, not in the work.
Instead of focusing on how boring your work is, or how difficult, or how it puts you under too much pressure, you need to find other ways to create happiness in your life. If you work remotely, build a space at home that makes you feel good and keeps you positive. Add plants, charms, pictures, comic book figurines, or anything that enhances your sense of well-being. You can do the same in your office!
If you can, listen to music and create playlists of your favorite songs. If you have to go to the office or face-to-face meetings, dress in a way that lifts your mood, wear nice colors or some fun accessories.
Nurture interpersonal relationships
Work, whether face-to-face or remote, usually involves having interpersonal relationships with colleagues. The best way to have good working relationships is to be yourself, show that you are passionate about what you do, share ideas for improvement and accept constructive criticism.
Unfortunately, not everyone you work with is going to be your friend, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to create pleasant connections with your colleagues. How about you suggest having lunch together? You can then have conversations about your hobbies, your families and your dreams for the future.
Positive interpersonal relationships in the workplace make everyday life more enjoyable.
Love yourself
Ultimately, nothing is going to improve the way you look at things unless you learn to love yourself. But how do you do that? Here are some ideas to help you.
- Start practicing mindfulness, the relaxation and meditation technique that helps you avoid anxiety and stress about things you have no control over.
- Ensure a calm start to your day by implementing a routine of yoga, meditation, writing or reading. The idea is to do something that relaxes you before you take that first look at your phone or computer.
- Do aerobic exercise such as running, HIIT, swimming or dancing.
These activities will help you feel better in your body, which will improve your outlook on life and your work. Who knows, maybe all the internal processing you do will lead to a positive change at work.
Never forget that you are important!
A more personal Valentine’s Day
This Valentine’s Day, put yourself at the center. Buy flowers for your home, prepare your favorite food. Organize an outing with your favorite people – this could be your partner, your friends, your work colleagues or your family. The key thing is to celebrate that you are alive, that life has so much more to offer you, and to remember that when you love yourself, everything else falls into place.
Do you want to join the conversation about the importance of loving yourself this February 14th? We are here to help with a lot of resources. Happy Valentine’s Day, from the entire Freepik Team.
