In thinking about your work, do you ever find yourself questioning, "How did I get here?" When it comes to our work, we often treat it as our air and water, the basics of survival, an unconscious acknowledgment of need. For some of us, work began in earlier years as a necessity yet was borne out of our desire to express ourselves through our interests. Later, it evolved into rote repetition of tasks and obligations with the promise of advancement through our dedication and commitment. With the advances in technology and the increased use of "out-sourcing" and economic instabilities, our sense of security has diminished and the "promises" are no longer upheld nor are even "promised". What does this mean for our definition of work?

We can no longer sit idly by and have our work definitions imposed on us. We need to shift our thinking into a paradigm allowing personal choice and responsibility as a guide.

Having a sense of "meaning" in our work often comes from a feeling we have had an "impact" and that we derive fulfillment in the actions of our day. It is from this stance where we can then uncover how to best meet our needs beyond survival. If financial survival is the current reality of our work definition, then perhaps the thinking can be, "how can I inject some meaning and fulfillment into this while I am here now?" Once the basic needs are met, as humans we strive to move up the evolutionary scale to experience more in our work and lives (from survival, to connections to with others, to self-esteem to meaning and purpose).

So how do we do this? We begin to take stock of our beliefs, thoughts, and behaviors. In other words, what do we see as true for ourselves and those around us, what stories do we tell ourselves each day, and how do we react and respond to these truths and stories? Keep a journal with you for a week or two and respond to these guiding questions to help you evaluate the current meaning you have of your work:

1. What is true about my work climate? ( the culture, realities, assets, opportunities, resources, mentors)

2. What is true about my own work? (leveraging of strengths*, sense of ease, motivation, integrity, collaboration, initiative, growth)

*strengths: to help you identify these, check out Oprah's on-line free course with Marcus Buckingham http://www.oprah.com/money/career/marcus/course/marcus_course_main.jhtml

3. Which stories do I tell myself throughout my day about my work and myself? (emotions, perceptions and beliefs, assumptions)

4. In which ways do I react to these stories and truths? (impulses, emotions, initiative, decisions) 5. In which ways do I respond to these stories and truths? (investigation, patience, problem-solving, validation, collaboration) When we begin to understand and become more aware of what goes into our sense of identity at work, we can then begin to look at not only the impact work has on us, but the impact we can have on our work. If we are dissatisfied with where we are today, taking some small steps to infuse meaning into our work may shift the direction even slightly. When we are observing our thoughts and impulses be becoming more present in our day, we may find the meaning we are searching for!