Before diving into today’s questions, I want to share the video above. It’s a short documentary titled Talking Heads (Gadające Głowy) by Polish director Krzysztof Kieślowski.
Talking Heads – Krzysztof Kieslowski
In this film, people—from babies to the elderly—are asked two simple yet profound questions: “Who are you?” and “What do you want from life?” These individuals have lived through the First and Second World Wars, either as children, teenagers, or adults. Some grew up in orphanages, others in loving homes with new hopes.
I found the work deeply moving. It’s extraordinary to witness how our answers to the question “Who are you?” shift with age, and how our expectations from life transform over time. For instance, a young person may define themselves through their job, while older individuals care about very different things. Some ground their identity in ideology or faith, while others long only for peace and humanity. It’s a video I wholeheartedly recommend watching.
Today’s Questions: Are You Happy at Work?
Let’s get to today’s questions:
Are you happy at work? What exactly do you enjoy? How qualified do you feel in what you do?
The reason I shared the video today is to reflect on how people’s perspectives on work have changed—especially after the hardships of the 20th century. Even within our own families, we see a generational shift. For many of our elders, just having a job was enough. But in the 21st century, there’s a stronger desire to “do what I love.”
While work remains essential for survival and earning a living, it also consumes about 25–30% of our lives. In many ways, we rent our time to our jobs. It’s only natural, then, to want this activity to be meaningful and comfortable. Perhaps we seek purpose in our work because we live in one of the most privileged eras in history—where having the luxury of choice is even possible.
Is “Doing What You Love” Overrated?
In my personal view, the idea of “I must do what I love” is a bit overrated. None of us dreamed of becoming HR managers, marketers, test engineers, janitors, or factory workers as children. Our desires were limited by what we knew. As we encountered new information and opportunities, our options expanded. Technology has also amplified our ability to compare.
But the worst thing we can do while discovering ourselves?
Comparing ourselves to others.
This also applies to work. When we compare ourselves to others and dream of different jobs or remote work fantasies, we often end up feeling miserable—and miss the opportunities right in front of us. If we truly wanted a different life, we’d already be heading in that direction. If the realities of life don’t align with our dreams, the best thing to do isn’t to “settle,” but to create opportunities, make the most of what we have, and open doors to new ones.
Just like how our answer to “What will you be when you grow up?” evolves over time.
Questions I Ask Myself
What matters most to me is this:
- Am I learning something new at work?
- Do I feel like I’m growing?
- Are new opportunities opening up?
- Am I getting enough support to pursue them?
- Are my days monotonous or filled with curiosity?
- How much does this job meet my expectations?
If the work I do meets even one of my material, professional, or emotional needs—I see no reason to feel bad about it. And if it only satisfies my financial needs for now, I know with a bit of patience, self-awareness, and self-development, I can reach where I want to be.
After All These Years, What Changed?
For me, money was never the main priority. I wanted to feel like my work served a purpose. I wanted my curiosity to be triggered, to feel like I was constantly evolving, learning, researching—and turning my findings into something tangible.
Years later, two things became clear:
- Humans create problems just to make solving them a job. Even the most meaningful work is often based on problems we created ourselves.
- There’s no such thing as a perfect job. It’s all about priorities—money, flexibility, social environment, or stress. Something will always be lacking. We learn to tolerate the downsides based on what matters most to us.
Why You Might Feel Unsatisfied
Another reason for dissatisfaction?
Feeling inadequate.
And that’s totally normal. No one starts with experience. Especially when you’re new to a job or environment, it’s natural to feel out of place or underqualified.
Experts often forget the struggles they faced to get where they are. They might act as if challenges and stress never existed. Some may even lack patience with newcomers, causing them to feel overwhelmed, scared, or constantly stressed.
If this resonates with you, the first step is realizing:
It’s not personal.
Regardless of your manager’s empathy or leadership, focus on doing your best and believing in your effort.
A Tip That Helped Me:
Keep a work journal.
Write down your tasks, learnings, challenges, and feelings. Weeks later, you’ll look back and realize just how far you’ve come.
What About Repetitive, Routine Work?
How can you feel better in a repetitive, physical job?
As a student working such jobs, I often asked, “What am I doing here?” The repetition made me feel robotic. I couldn’t understand how people did it for decades—or how they got out.
But then I realized—even the most mundane job has something to offer. Even if it’s temporary, there’s always something to gain—even outside the job itself. You can integrate external learning like podcasts or language learning into the routine.
Small changes break the monotony.
Even trivial ones—like drinking tea instead of coffee—can help.
Set goals. Without goals, you don’t know where you stand. Having a goal motivates you and enhances your skills.
Take breaks—not to scroll on your phone, but to get air, think, and decompress. This makes time more productive.
Search for Meaning.
This isn’t about grand meaning, but about seeing yourself as part of something bigger. Even if your task feels meaningless, reframing it can change everything. For example, thinking of a factory line job as part of the process that delivers medicine to thousands of patients.
Final Thought
When I get too caught up in searching for meaning, I think of ants. Maybe their actions are meaningless—but they’re part of a cycle.
Or a rock on a mountain. It doesn’t work, it just exists. It lies there for years. Imagine if it too was looking for “meaning.”
Who are we to obsess so much over purpose?
In the end, we come and go within life’s cycle. Our only task is to survive—and to make the most of what we have while we’re here.
bahadirhancicek 
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