Be happy!

I am an expert in work joy, and when I say that out loud, I receive quite different reactions. Some nod in agreement and find it very important that someone takes care of the emotional aspects of work. Others shake their heads in disbelief and wonder what nonsense this is. " If it's fun, it's not work!" an older gentleman once declared on this topic. For him, it is almost indecent to feel joy while working because that would mean that one is not really working properly. Others are convinced that joy and work do not go together and that one must be mentally ill if they want to bring these two things together. Many consider me out of touch with reality and are convinced that I have no idea about the working world and should better keep my mouth shut. I have to disappoint the latter. I do have some knowledge indeed. Not only have I been on the road for 25 years in various organizations in the field of personnel and leadership development, seeing and experiencing a lot. I have also worked in various jobs myself for several years. I was an employee in an open-plan office and before that, as a student, I had the opportunity to gain countless experiences in various companies. I spent weeks packing diodes in little boxes for eight hours a day, galvanizing electronic components, sorting magazines, and doing many other exciting things. I know what I'm talking about when I say: work should bring joy! This is ultimately a matter of reason. Because unhappy employees are a huge problem for their environment: they get sick more often, work poorly, and cause social tensions. Regular joyless work affects every aspect of life. We simply cannot afford to spend a considerable part of our waking hours suffering! Ultimately, life is about quality, not functionality. Australian author Bronnie Ware reports in her book "5 Things Dying People Most Regret" that many regret the years of lack of joy at the end of their lives. What kind of work world is it where joy is considered an unrealistic demand! This is a deeply human need. And if our work world cannot meet this, it means it is inhumane. Therefore, I have made it my mission to show people how they can find joy in their work, even though so much speaks against it. Even when they actually have reason to complain incessantly. In the meantime, I know a lot of ways to experience joy even under suboptimal conditions. Happiness always has the quality of "nonetheless." We can learn to experience happy moments every day. And we should definitely do that. Because work is a very important part of our lives. It would be very sad if we had to regret working so much in the end.