We often define ourselves and others by what we do for a living. In many cases, we use our job title to express who we are and forget who we are at our core and outside of work. Consequently, we put who we actually are as a person, what we believe, what our passions are in life, and how we treat people, to the side lines. Instead, we say that we’re a teacher, a waitress, a policeman, a caretaker, a nurse, a postman, a cashier, a barmaid, etc.

However, we forget that this isn’t who we are. A job doesn’t define you. It doesn’t matter what you do for a living, it doesn’t make you any more or any less of a person. What truly defines you is how you treat people and how you treat yourself.

Who honestly cares what you do for a living in the grand scheme of things!? At your funeral people will talk of the person you were, how you made them and others feel. They will remember all the great things you did in your life outside of your job. At the end of the day, a job is just a job. Of course, it’s amazing if you love what you do but it still isn’t who you are at your core.

When asked who you are or what you do in life, your answer shouldn’t automatically go to what you do for a living. Your answer should be more personal to you and your passions in life. You could be an animal lover, a mother, an avid reader or writer, an adventurer, etc.

Personal Experience

I used to see myself as a failure because I didn’t have a career, and I did nothing with my university degree. Instead, I worked retail and hospitality jobs all my life. As a result, I was scared that everyone would judge me and not take me seriously because I had worked “dead-end jobs” my whole life. Furthermore, I had pressure from my family constantly to “get a real job”. This made me feel worthless and like I would never amount to anything in life. Ultimately, it really got me down and made me feel insecure about myself and my capabilities.

It wasn’t until I started my self-development journey that I realised that it really doesn’t matter what you do for a living as long as you are happy. That’s the bottom line in life, as long as you are happy and not hurting other people, then honestly what does it matter what your job is!?

It’s just a job at the end of the day and you need to put life into perspective. Start living in the moment and you will realise that as long as you are healthy, happy, loved, and treat people well then you are successful at life. Finding a job that you love is amazing. However, when work starts to dominate your life and you focus too much on it, neglecting other important aspects, it becomes a problem.

Remember

There are more important things to life than what you do for a living. However, people tend to focus too much time and stress on work. You need to learn to switch off from work sometimes and focus on other areas of your life. Remember to have fun with family, friends, and your partner.

When you’re old, you’re not going to wish you’d worked even longer hours. You won’t regret taking a weekend off for yourself. You will remember the festivals, holidays, trips, Summer barbecues, beach days, and all that other stuff that makes life worth living.

When you put work into perspective this way, it’s easy to see that a job doesn’t define you. A job title doesn’t make you who you are. It’s all the other things in your life that are important and your true character.

If people judge you based on what you do for a living, that says a whole lot more about them than it does you.

Here are some important things to remember that a job doesn’t define who you are…

A Job Isn’t Permanent

A job isn’t always going to be there for you indefinitely. There’s always the risk that the company you work for could go bust and you could be made redundant. They may need to make cuts and sack you or you may get sick and be unable to work.

If you let a job define who are you then if one of these things happens to you then it’s the end of the world for you. Therefore, you shouldn’t give something so much power over your life.

At the end of the day, a job is there for you to pay your bills and not to make you who you are.

A Job is What You Do, Not Who You Are

If your life is solely centred around working all the time and you define yourself as being your job, then there’s not much room for anything else to take importance in your life.

It’s easy to lose sight of our passions and what’s really important to us deep down. When we become too focused on being successful at work, we forget about who we are. We can lose sight of what we want to really do and experience in our lives.

People can judge others on their job status, she’s just a waitress… but that’s not the case. You may be a waitress for your job but that isn’t who you are as a person. It doesn’t make you a less valuable member of society just because of your wage. You could be a waitress and a loving partner, a mother, an online business owner, or a writer in your spare time. “Waitress” is just the title and box that people put you in and judge you for.

On the other side, you could be a successful lawyer who is an alcoholic, beats their partner, never sees their kid, and looks down on other people. However, some people would see you as being more valuable or successful on paper because of your job status. As long as you’re a good person, happy, and treat others with respect you are better. If you are working on improving yourself each day, then this is what defines you. Not the fact that your job title is “just a waitress”.

It’s also important to remember that all jobs in society play and important role. We need people in every job role otherwise things wouldn’t function. Everyone plays an invaluable part of the community and therefore shouldn’t be judged.

As Long As You’re Happy, What Does it Matter What You Do for a Living?

Don’t use your job title to describe you and sum up who you are as a person. Remember, you’re more than the job you do. You are you and have way more to offer in your life than your job title might give you credit for.

Don’t allow people to make you feel bad if you don’t have a career or it all figured out yet. In the grand scheme of life, what does it matter what you do for a living? If people judge you for what job you do, then this says a lot more about their character than yours.

Happiness doesn’t come from what job you do. Of course, if you have a job you love then this helps add to your happiness. However, true happiness comes from being happy and content with who are as a person not how your career is going.

You need to have more things in your life that bring you joy and make you feel worthwhile. It’s dull if all you’re focused on is work all the time. When you’re work-obsessed you take other people for granted and lose sight of what’s really important in life. For example, your relationships with other people and your self-development and happiness.

Don’t allow other people’s opinions to dampen your spirit and your self-worth. If you’re happy and are working on your passions, goals, and dreams in life then it really doesn’t matter what job title you have.

Don’t Allow Work to Dictate Your Happiness

Too many people put a massive strain on themselves to reach the top of their profession. They want to be the best, make the most money, get the promotion, etc. Therefore, they work themselves to breaking point because they’ll “be happy when…”. When they get that pay rise, when they become a manager etc. Instead of being happy in the moment they put too much pressure on themselves. Ultimately, they allow their happiness to be dependent on reaching work goals.

When they don’t get that promotion or pay rise, they become bitter, angry, and resentful. Therefore, all the stress has been for nothing and they feel worthless about themselves. Or, if they do get that promotion then after time they want to be even higher and higher. Therefore, they’re never content or happy with what they have, nothing is ever enough.

Work shouldn’t define your happiness, it should come from within. As well as the people that you love in your life, and from following your dreams and passions. You can be proud of your job but don’t let it become your whole life. Your job title shouldn’t be your only focus because there’s far more to life than a job.

If you’re struggling to find what you want to do for a career and are putting loads of pressure on yourself to have it all figured out, stop! Happiness doesn’t come from what job you do. Don’t beat yourself up if you haven’t found out what you want to do for a career yet.

A Job’s Not Going to Be There for You Through Tough Times

If your sole focus in life is being successful in your career, then you’re going to have a lonely and unfulfilled life. When you’re old or ill you’re not going to wish you’d spend more time working. You’ll wish you’d followed your dreams and passions. Or, spent more time with loved ones or having more fun and adventures.

Your job isn’t always going to be there for you but your family, friends, and partner are always there to guide you and support you through tough times in life. Your job doesn’t care about you as an individual, most people can be replaced within a matter of days at work. Therefore, if you spend all your time and energy on work, you’re missing what really matters in life.

People get too caught up in work, work until they’re old, and then realise they haven’t done half of what they wanted to with their life because it’s too late and all their focus was on work their whole lives. What are they then left with when they’re too old to work!?

You need to find a balance in life between work and your social life. At the end of the day when you can’t work anymore what is going to define you?

Family, friends, your partner, your health and your inner happiness are what’s most important in life and how you treat others. The relationship you have with the people around you and yourself should be your main focus because that’s what’s going to get you through life.

Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover

If you judge someone for what they do for a living then you’re not seeing that person as a whole and it says a lot more about your character than it does theirs.

The barista who just served you coffee could be a university student, or they could be setting up their own business. They might be a single mother, writing a novel, or they could be training to be a nurse, etc. You don’t know what that person does in their spare time and you shouldn’t be concerned or look down on them just because they’re “just a barista”.

People can work on their passions behind closed doors and many famous successful people did “mundane” jobs before they found their calling in life.

There are no time frames in life and everyone goes at their own pace. People can fulfill their goals and dreams whenever they decide to. It may take some people longer to get there but it’s still just as much of an achievement.

“Judging a person does not define who they are. It defines who you are.”– Kristen Stewart

Summary

If your main focus in life is your job and you become over-obsessed and overworked, this takes up too much of your time and your life. Your job doesn’t define who you are as a person. Therefore, you shouldn’t use your job and working constantly to mask deeper issues and insecurities in your life.

At the end of your life, you will be judged on how you treat others and how you make them feel. Therefore, don’t let the idea that you’re only a successful person if you have an envious and successful career behind you distract from the other more important areas of your life.

Your relationships with others and yourself are the true nature of who you are. Therefore, don’t neglect these areas of your life because they’re the most important.

You need to remember that a job or career doesn’t make you who you are. Furthermore, you should only judge others and yourself on your character. What positive qualities do you bring to your life and those around you?

“It’s not your degree, nor your knowledge, nor your experience that matters most. It’s your character and attitude.”– Unknown

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