Having a Career You Love (or even like) Matters!

For over 20 years, I have asked hundreds of people how they chose their current career/job. It’s either one of two ways – they fell into it years ago and have just stayed, or they mindfully chose how they would spend their valuable time. You may be surprised to learn what I have found. Most people did not specifically choose their career.

Does it matter if you didn’t choose it or if you don’t “care” about it? Hundreds of studies have shown that people who enjoy what they do are happier overall. Below are a few of the positive outcomes that can occur when you have a positive purpose every day.

You are focused on effort and growth. When you genuinely care about your work, you naturally invest more attention and energy into it. That effort over the years leads to real mastery — not because you forced yourself, but because curiosity kept pulling you forward.

You protect your mental and physical health. Work occupies a huge portion of your waking life. Spending that time doing something that drains or bores you is a chronic stressor. People in fulfilling careers report lower rates of burnout, anxiety, and even physical illness.

You become more resilient. Every career hits rough patches — setbacks, rejections, plateaus. If you love the work itself, you have a reason to push through that goes beyond just a paycheck. Passion helps you through when things get hard.

The rest of your life is enhanced. A career you resent tends to follow you home — in mood, energy, and presence. A job you love also follows you. People are generally better partners, parents, and friends when they feel engaged and purposeful during the day.

You feel a sense of identity and meaning. Humans are wired to want to feel that their time and effort matter. A career aligned with your values and interests gives you a consistent answer to the question "why does what I do count?" — and that matters deeply for long-term wellbeing.

It often leads to better outcomes, even practically. People who love their work tend to be more creative, collaborative, and persistent — qualities that tend to produce better results and open more doors over time.

So, what happens when you realize that you may need to make a change? Sit down and talk to a trusted friend or mentor about the situation – brainstorm some options. You may need more training or to go back to school. Whatever tasks may lie ahead of you, it’s exciting to think of what could be in the future and to make plans for that!

That said, it's worth being honest: "love" or “caring” in a career is rarely constant. Even people in deeply fulfilling careers have dull days, frustrating projects, and moments of doubt. The goal is less about passion every single moment and more about a general sense that this work matters to me and suits who I am. That's what sustains a career over a lifetime.