The work that you are meant to do is not an answer you get back from doing an online personality quiz. It’s not an analytical process. It is not a task you can check off. The problem is that we have been schooled to be so logical that it’s easy to lose touch with what feels right. Our culture does not encourage us to pause and reflect; it encourages us to get things done and move to the next project. These conditions make it nearly impossible to make any meaningful progress.
Your work is a mystery waiting to be discovered. Just as you are unique, so too is your work. To tap into the distinctiveness that you embody, you need to penetrate to the core of your true self. Start by becoming intensely aware of how you feel when you engage in your work. What sort of sensations are you experiencing in your body?
I remember a moment early in my career, sitting in a high-rise office building, staring out at the cityscape. It was a prestigious job with a respectable salary, everything I was told I should want. But as I sat there, I felt this gnawing sensation in my chest, like something was profoundly wrong. It was a feeling I couldn’t shake, a sense that I was not where I was supposed to be. At the time, I didn’t understand it, but looking back, I realize it was my true self desperately trying to speak to me, urging me to listen to my intuition to find a path that resonated with my heart.
It’s essential to distinguish between intuition and anxiety, as they can sometimes feel similar. Anxiety often presents as repetitive, fearful thought patterns, a loud sense of impending doom or physical reactions like racing thoughts, shallow breathing, physical tension, and even a sense of panic. It tends to be rooted in a fear of the unknown or past experiences.
In contrast, intuition is more of a calm and persistent inner knowing. It’s a quieter, more grounded feeling from your true self that guides you in a particular direction. While anxiety seeks to keep you safe by avoiding perceived dangers, intuition guides you toward your true path, often despite the fear. Learning to recognize this distinction can help you trust your intuition and follow it, even when it seems challenging.
Listen to your intuition. It contains timeless wisdom that transcends logic. Its message provides the ultimate clue to help you choose your work.
This article is an excerpt from Chapter 7 of Choose Your Work
Dan Dobos writes about decision making, personal growth, human potential, fulfillment and helping people choose the work that they are meant to do. He is the author of Choose Your Work.