Can Our Work Define Us?

One of the first things that comes up when you get to know someone and start chatting with them is usually about your work. When asked to say a bit more about yourself, you will spontaneously answer the question of what you do for a living. These subtle interactions with others make it clear how important our work is not only for us but also for the rest of the world. Our very society has been created in such a way that our primary goal since our childhood is to prepare ourselves to go out into the adult world as successful professionals and land a job.

The one who doesn't want to work simultaneously is usually considered the scapegoat for their environment. And this could make sense, we would say, since we wonder what they do with their life, how they make ends meet, etc. Being an active part of the workforce guarantees our survival, our chances of getting entertained and enjoying the little happy moments in life, and ensures that we have everything else that is necessary for our well-being, in general.

We all understand that work is of great importance to our society and is part of our lives

But what effect does it have on our personality? Or do we choose our profession based on our personality? Whatever the answer, the only thing that is certain is that work determines our lives in one way or another. Right or wrong... it happens. There are professions where the personality traits of the professional play a decisive role in their modus operandi at work. Via their profession, they project their personality in some way to achieve their desired results (e.g., teachers, lawyers, and many more). But there are also professions, especially the more technical ones, where one’s personality is not in the spotlight.

Nevertheless, most professionals are identified in one way or another by their profession. A very typical example is, of course, the earnings and the social status we receive. It is common for those with a high income to automatically have social prestige, since society often considers people with good salaries to be respected.

In that case, what do you admire most?

The salary or the person? And that's where the question comes in... are we really our profession? Should our profession define us? And if yes, to what extent?

One trap we all fall into is that we associate our entire identity with our professional status. And it’s undeniable that in some professions, personality is the means actually to do the job.

But it is merely the means, not the result or the goal

Our work, especially when we do something we love, is a massive part of our lives. But how much will it affect us outside working hours? Will we bring work home? For example, does my working as a teacher mean that I have to be a "teacher" and treat my friends that way outside of work? I work on teaching every day, and certainly my personality affects my work, but that's about it. I should not be defined by that alone. I agree with the view that your profession can reveal things about you, but it doesn't give the whole picture.

You're not just your profession

Most people think they can tell who someone is by their profession. And it is partly true. But what about those who do a job out of necessity? How are they defined? So does the profession fully define our personality? Does how you do your job matter more than what job you do?

This trap that we all fall into, of defining ourselves by our work, becomes even clearer when we consider the cases of people who have lost their jobs and lost themselves along with them. When someone build their life around their job and all they think about is this and cannot function without it, if they lose their job (sh*t happens, the economy is not quite blooming yet), then they lose the meaning of life. I won’t get into the economic challenges that come with a job loss, which are clearly very important. I'm talking about the fact that if one loses their job, they lose their perception of themselves. They feel inadequate, and here come the other issues. Many people, unfortunately, experience severe psychological challenges when they lose their jobs. And sometimes it's tough to recover from that.

Founding the whole meaning of your life on your work is not the same as founding the meaning of your work.

Is it important?

Of course it is. Will it keep you busy after hours? Many times. Does it have to be the only thing that gives your life meaning? No. Everyone needs to find meaning in life beyond work. Have a personal goal and have time with yourself. This meaning is enough to help us improve professionally, set high personal and family goals, etc. All this belongs to a cycle where the focus is not on our work but on ourselves. Our work is just an important part of this cycle.

To be fulfilled, there must be a balance between our professional and personal lives.

Work is a very important factor in our personal happiness and development. It is through work that we complete our personality, and it indeed determines our lives to a great extent. After all, we understand its importance if we think about the hours we spend on it every day.

But... our work gives us meaning in life, it is not THE meaning of life. Our work is a part of ourselves, not our whole selves. You're not just your job. And we will only understand this if we are outside of it.

That's where we will realize that other things take priority in our lives.