You Are Not Your Work
How to escape “workism” and reclaim your identity.
If asked who you are, what would you say? CEO. Entrepreneur. Artist. Engineer. Consultant.
It’s funny how unconsciously our work title can take over our identity. Teacher. Lawyer. Nurse.
In The Atlantic article “Workism is Making Americans Miserable,” Derek Thompson describes “The Gospel of Work” or what he calls “workism” - something I discuss in more depth in the book Tracking Wonder: Reclaiming a Life of Meaning & Possibility in a World Obsessed with Productivity. Workism "is the belief that work is not only necessary to economic production, but also the centerpiece of one’s identity and life’s purpose; and the belief that any policy to promote human welfare must always encourage more work.”
When you are told, again and again, that you are your work, you start to believe it. The trap in workism is this: When you associate your full identity and self-worth with your work, occupation, or job.
You are not your work. Your work is simply a part of you. But in this era of work - WFH, remote work, hybrid work - it’s difficult to separate the idea of meaningful work from a meaningful life.
Dan Lyons of The Times wrote about how a contestant on Apple’s “Planet of the Apps” nonchalantly said, “I rarely get to see my kids. That’s a risk you have to take.” The contestant, like many Americans, was taught to believe that meaningful work (even non-meaningful work) requires the sacrifice of meaningful relationships; it requires 24/7 dedication and unwavering commitment to the work above family, self-care, or personal fulfillment outside of work.
With cell phones glued to our pockets, we are always connected and readily available to respond to work-related emails, calls, and meeting requests. Who can easily disassociate themselves from work? And for those of us doing what we love, we get stuck with the mindset that because we love it, we should be doing more of it.
But maybe it doesn’t have to be that way.
What if we could fashion a fulfilling creative life that includes impactful work?
I invite your perspective.
Overworking Is Underproductive
Many entrepreneurs, high-level executives, entry-level assistants, and students wear their work ethic as if it were a badge of honor. If you’re waking up earlier than your peers, working longer hours than your peers, and taking on more work than your peers, then you’re getting ahead of your peers, right? In the age of “hustling,” we are taught to believe that the harder—and longer—we work, the more successful we are or will become.
Hustling has become so commonplace that people in their 20s and 30s have become “obsessed with striving, relentlessly positive, devoid of humor,” writes Erin Griffith of
in the New York Times article “Why Are Young People Pretending to Love Work?” They are encouraged to exercise more and meditate more frequently so they can be better equipped to land the next big client or handle another project or spend more of their free time on side hustles, thus making their sole identity and sense of self-worth work-focused.But what we don’t talk about is our productivity threshold. We all have one. As humans, we need sleep to be productive, and yet, “burning the candle at both ends” has become the norm. When you’re overworked, you’re actually less productive (surprise!).
When you get more sleep, develop a healthier work/life integration (no such thing as “balance”), and actually learn how to separate yourself from your work, you might discover something: That you’re capable of not just enjoying more meaningful (and productive) work, but also of creating a more meaningful and well-rounded life.
Maybe.
You Risk Losing Yourself in Your Work
Maybe you’re staying late at the office and taking on extra shifts or clients so you can better provide for your family. Maybe you’re staying at the office later and later so you can get ahead of your colleagues in the hopes of getting promotion after promotion so you can save your money and retire early. Maybe you’re working on 10 different projects, all in an attempt to make your startup more successful than the competition.
Chances are you’re losing your sense of self and not even aware of it. “Workism” makes us believe that we are what we do for our job or pay-related work, which leads us to adapt a work-obsessed mindset. When we see our peers, colleagues, or idols promoting their early-morning workouts, their late nights in the office, their after-work work, we start to believe that everybody’s hustling. But often we see what others want us to see, which may increase the risk of depression and make us believe that we’re not doing enough. Sheesh.
The problem: Stressing to get more done today could impact your mental health and lead to burnout, which ultimately puts you farther from your goals.
The other problem: Perception vs reality of fulfillment. I’ve studied, worked with, and interviewed fulfilled innovators for a long while. From the outside looking in, we perceive that fulfilled people are always focused on work, but in reality, many fulfilled innovators view their self-identify by more than one title: business owner, partner, parent, friend, little league coach, mentor.
Crafting a New Identity Leads to a More Meaningful Life
Basing your life’s meaning on your work is not the same as crafting meaning in your work. You can enjoy purpose-fuelled work without losing yourself in the process. You also can track wonder at work and in the workplace to feel more connected. One important key is to identify your own personal purpose. In Tracking Wonder Land, we have a core practice called Devotion. Maybe it’s a loaded word, but - with roots in “vocation” and “voice” - I define “devotion” as that commitment infused with wonder that you’re called to.
Your wondrous devotion will be the driver of your W.I.S.E. work goals, your F.L.O.W. (Fulfilling Life Outside of Work) personal goals, and your family goals. It will center you day-after-day and keep you focused on your core genius. Your “core genius” is your distinct force of character you were born with and where you derive your identity. It is not work-driven. It is self-driven. Maybe, dare I say, soul-driven.
To attain a healthy or well-rounded identity, it helps to establish a mixed integration (not balance) in your work and in your personal life. That mix will shift occasionally (i.e., when you’re launching a new part of your business, when you’re on a tight deadline, or when you’re preparing for a wedding or taking your child to check out colleges). Your work can add meaning to your life, but it should not be the “meaning of your life,” even if it’s the dream job you’ve always wanted.
Most everyone here at the Tracking Wonder HUB is in pursuit of meaningful work, but often we get caught up in the day-to-day stress of reaching our short-term goals instead of focusing on the long-term aims. Work success is always rewarding, but is it as rewarding, in the end, if you’re disregarding your personal fulfillment and richness of life?
For a fulfilling creative life, why not aim for both personal and professional fulfillment?
Your Turn to Wonder
»> When you feel yourself drawn into the cult of Workism, how do you escape?
»> Any secrets or tips from your experience for a healthy focus on finding fulfillment both through work and in life outside of work?
Thanks for running with me,
Jeffrey