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Intrinsic motivation in career
I have received some news that I got rejected yet for another fellowship that I applied for in terms of upcoming work in my current position. I'm kinda bummed but also start to realize that there's something wrong in my strategy to doing things and getting fulfillment from work. I am thinking of leaving the world of research and also the specific public health field I'm in. In the past few years I've also felt that I'm doing a lot of menial work that is exhausting without any kind of real recognition like an award, prize or fellowship. Opportunities don't come along no matter how hard I strive for them. I think it has something to do with how I market myself - but I'm also really against the type of hyped up shameless marketing.
Anyway, just wondering what value do people find in work if the efforts you spend trying to make personal improvements always hit some hurdle. I'm at a point in my career that I feel pretty unfulfilled in my work - with not great pay, no accolades (would be different if I had this fellowship thing) and also petty politics/bureaucracy.
Is there anyway out of this? I'm thinking about making tangible efforts to change my career now. Just wondering if it's not the field but really my skills/mindset or both.
Hello Emily,
I think we already spoke about it sometimes in the past. Not implying anything here.
I mean that it really sucks to feel like being stuck.
The hard part is changing the situation. I think it is about having a dream then having a plan and then going to work on it like our lives depended on it. It actually does.
In truth it’s up to you. In knowing what you want and if you don’t, to look for it.
I found that for me if I don’t have a dream life does not have the same appeal. I get bored/dissatisfied. But when I pursue my dream I feel like I’m on fire.
It’s about believing in yourself that you can make that change. All this determination you mustered to get here it’s about finding ways to build it again and channel it in this life change.
Lucio talks about “unwavering belief” that’s what I’m focusing on and recommend cultivating.
“I’m going to change my life no matter what. I’m going to find what I love to do. I’m going to find great supervisors and colleagues. I’m going to have a great salary and good work life balance.”
Or any variation of it. The more accurate the better as you’re giving instructions to your subconscious.
Then you repeat it over and over and over again. In your head or out loud. You put pictures of your dream on your walls. You brainstorm a plan. You ask other people how they found it or what they think about your plan.
You fight with every ounce of energy to overcome the inertia of your current life situation. There is no other way. Fighting for our lives and its improvement. No one is going to do it for us. I know that you know it. The trick is dogged perseverance until we break through to a new life situation or new mindset or anything else.
Going on YouTube looking for videos on the topic. Listening to audiobooks. Searching on Amazon. Anything until we break through.
I am in the same situation. So I’m back to a sort of monk mode. I’m focussing my energy on changing my beliefs, mindsets and habits.
So it’s about channeling our inner warrior. And then we go and we go and we go. Until we reach our goals.
”Not giving up is the precursor to success”
You posting here means that you want to change. Now it’s about going to the next step: I must fucking change. No matter what.
Hi John, thanks for your pep talk! Sorry this turned out to be more of a generic rant but my life is actually getting better both professionally and personally. I'm in a transitional period so I have lots of confusion but I'll raise those specific questions in separate threads.
