You Don't Love Work... Are You Broken?

In your life, there are two paths to potentially pursue when deciding on your career and how you'll use your time at work.

Path 1: Use work to fulfill my purpose.

Path 2: Use work to fund my purpose.

(Technically, there are three paths. The third path… the unicorn path, is finding work that funds and fulfills your purpose, but for many people, that’s a privilege, opportunity, or job we may never have. Often those jobs that fuel purpose don’t pay well, are unstable, burn you out, or make you resent what you thought you loved to do).

You might have learned growing up that people should love work. They should care deeply about it, talk about it all the time, get their pride from it, and respect it.

Maybe you watched a parent or grandparent find their identity in their work and they carried that identity with them through their lives. Work solidified their place in the world and provided validation when a job was done well. They were an “ad man” since 1964 and referred to themselves as an “ad man” until their final days because it was a great pride in their lives.

I don’t know if people loved their jobs back in the days of more “precedented times” or if they just loved the security. Jobs back then came with pensions, benefits, regular pay increases, and sometimes promotions. The world now is more chaotic, unstable, fast paced, and companies continue to lack empathy and awareness that people are human, regardless of their job title.

At some point we all have to decide where and how we’ll find connection with our purpose. For some, that purpose has been clear for a long time— their personal mission to helping others, to a cause, or to a profession has been their focus. Whether that’s through medicine, community causes, mental health, creativity, art, or other channels that light them on fire.

People who feel this passion are drawn to work because it gives them space to fulfill their purpose, and sometimes they’re willing to engage in that work even when it’s hard or doesn’t pay well because the reward is fulfilling their deeper mission. This is Path 1: using work to fulfill your purpose.

But that’s not the only path. Path 2 is equally valid, and it’s about using work to fund your purpose. Maybe your job isn’t where you find meaning or excitement, but it’s what enables you to pursue what truly matters to you outside of work. It gives you the financial stability to explore hobbies, passions, relationships, or causes that bring you joy. For some, this path means work is a means to an end—a way to support a lifestyle, family, or personal goals that are more aligned with their passions.

There’s nothing broken about you if you haven’t found that deep connection with your job. In fact, you’re in the majority. Most people view work as a way to make a living rather than as the primary source of their identity or fulfillment. The key is understanding which path you’re on and making peace with it.

If you’re on Path 2 and comfortable with it, then there’s no need to feel like you’re missing out. However, if you find yourself yearning for something more, it might be time to explore small shifts—like seeking new projects, learning new skills, or even finding a different role that aligns more with your interests. This doesn’t necessarily mean a complete career overhaul; sometimes, even minor changes can bring a renewed sense of purpose and satisfaction.

Many Path 2 people seek to fulfill their purpose through volunteering, donating to causes they care about, writing, content editing, making art on weekends, gardening, parenting, being a great friend or partner, or other ways that align with who they are, what they believe, and how they can best share their gifts and mission with the world. They find love and fulfillment there, not at work.

Ultimately, the goal isn’t to force yourself to love your job but to ensure that your life, as a whole, feels fulfilling. Whether you find that fulfillment in your work or outside of it, what matters most is that it works for you.

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