«Meraki», the key to finding passion in your work and being happier

The meaning of meraki denotes undertaking any activity with enthusiasm. Whether it is some hobbya sport or a job, Applying this concept can push you to change your way of thinking and achieve great results.

The greater passion motivates your occupations, the greater performance and satisfaction you will notice in each of them. Therefore, we will tell you everything about this philosophy and how to apply it in your work. Do not miss it!

What is the meaning of meraki?

This word comes from Greek and is related to an attitude of life. Meraki It means doing something with creativity, inspiration, passion, soul and love. Although the concept does not have a literal translation, It is possible to relate it to having all the efforts in that activity you perform.

Thus, meraki It enables the creation of unique and memorable experiences, strictly related, from the field of psychology, to experiential love. Such attitude or method It is applicable to any aspect of life. Consequently, the effort you put into each of your hobbies and tasks can be reflected in greater happiness.

Meraki at work

As we mentioned, applying this philosophy in your work helps you see life with different eyes. That way, it will be easy to feel more comfortable with what you do every day.

The meaning of meraki is related to the English term engagement. This word means “commitment” and implies approaching something with passion. In fact, the expression is highly studied in relation to attitude at work.

So, commitment in the workplace is to maintain a positive state of mind, characterized by vigor and dedication. It is important to highlight that Those who are engaged in their daily activities have higher levels of energy and enthusiasm, which achieves an increase in immersion in tasks, as indicated by a report from Career Development International.

Engagement and burnout

Just like him meraki at work is linked to commitment, the concept also has an intrinsic relationship with that of engagement. And, in turn, it is contrasted with the term burnout.

When we talk about burnout We refer to physical and mental exhaustion, along with loss of motivation or incentive. In fact, it is a syndrome that causes distant and negative treatment towards people who work with you or are in your work environment. Even towards clients. In the same way, it generates physical and psychological health problems.

In contrast, the engagementis linked to the attitude meraki, since it involves a certain physical and emotional commitment during work performance. This agreement achieves a connection between the person and their environment; those who practice it, Instead of considering it stressful, they take it as challenging, according to an article by Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior.

Benefits of implementing higher engagement

Have an older attitude engagement At work it brings some advantages. We already mentioned that one of them is happiness. In fact, when efforts bear fruit, it is common to feel happy.

Despite all this, you must consider that no excess is good. Being too committed to work could have the opposite effect and end up exhausting you, just as much as if you hadn’t tried. The good thing is always to maintain a balance.

How to apply it in the workplace?

The application of philosophy meraki at work varies according to what your work activity is like. If you like your job, putting it into practice will not be so difficult. Most likely, you will do it naturally.

Even though that may not be your experience, perhaps one of the people in your work environment is passionate about their work. In this way you will express that attitude when working with engagement and would radiate that commitment to the rest of the team. In that case, let yourself be carried away by their enthusiasm.

Nevertheless, There are other cases in which it is easy to fall into pessimism and mental exhaustion. It is true that a lot depends on how you treat your colleagues or bosses and the work resources you have, such as feedback, support from other members or training.

Your own personality, self-esteem or motivation also influences your attitude towards work. Even so, there is always a way to catch that passion, so we will give you some tips that you can implement.

1. Reflect on your strengths

Although your job may not be what you dreamed of, if you got there, chances are you have appropriate skills or knowledge and enjoy putting them into practice. Even if there are few, try to focus on those skills and seek to develop them. Indeed, through these, you will be able to increase your passion and positive attitude when working.

2. Focus on your motivations

All work has its remuneration, whether economic or intellectual. If you suffer from burnout and you can’t change your mood, A good idea is to think of a bigger benefit you can get from those tasks. That is, focus on incentives. In fact, they are a great motivator that can increase your performance and commitment, highlights a publication from Frontiers in Public Health.

These rewards or motivators can be: saving to buy something you like, traveling, attending an event, giving a gift to someone you love, etc. You can also take into account those characteristics that you learn through work. You may not have considered it before, but the learning that any activity brings you is a great reward.

3. Change your way of thinking

This is, perhaps, the most difficult advice to apply. It is important that you know that, if you have a behavior in which every demand provokes fear, it is very likely that you will not be able to implement the meaning of meraki. On the contrary, proactivity at work would lead to higher levels of commitment and passion.

Try to consider each requirement as a challenge or goal. It can be an opportunity to show off and learn in the process. Believing that it is possible to have control of these types of situations will allow you to deal with them in a better way. Indeed, this change in attitude would make you happier and more passionate in the workplace.

4. Ask for feedback

Perceived support, whether from the rest of the team or your superiors, is essential to avoid burnout and stress. Get a response or feedback about the tasks performed helps you find passion in your work.

Furthermore, as indicated by research by SSM – Population Health, social support is protective and beneficial, both for physical health and well-being at work. At the same time, not having the support of a supervisor would pose a health risk and poor work results.

Therefore, if others do not tell you what they think about your performance, There is always the possibility of asking them for feedback. Just ask: “What did you think?” And she waits for her response. Of course, if what you hear is not what you wanted, don’t be discouraged; Take it as an incentive to improve.

Use the meaning of meraki in your daily life

Although we focus on the meaning of meraki at work, keep in mind that This attitude of life applies at any time and in any area. When you find yourself facing a difficulty and suddenly fall into pessimism, implement this method to find happiness, understanding that you are going through one of the worst moments.

Reflecting on your strengths, motivating yourself with those actions that make you happy or understanding difficulties, as challenges, are small changes to make you feel better. This philosophy in all aspects of life is a great step to contribute to your well-being and way of perceiving the dynamics that are created in your daily life.

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