Labor of Love
Usually, Labor Day for me, is just an extra day off work. Any extra day off work calls for a celebration, right? This labor day however, I’ve grown more curious about how work impacts our lives and why it has even been called a labor of love.
Labor is defined as the physical and mental effort required to achieve a goal. The history of labor goes back to ancient times where slave labor played a central role in building and maintaining civilizations. In the 18th century, the colonization of America began and much of the labor was physical and seasonal. The industrial revolution shifted the focus of work to mass production and resulted in poor working conditions and low worker wages. This resulted in several labor movements focused on improving wages, hours, and workplace safety. The 21st century workplace changed once again, becoming less physical and more focused on digital technologies. Labor debates continue with the aim of having fair and just working conditions for all.
So, then, with the long and varied past of labor, how can anyone consider work a labor of love? The phrase “labor of love” has been used for centuries but the exact origin is not known. It is used to describe work that is done for the pure joy of doing vs. financial reward. A labor of love stems from intrinsic motivation, usually the result of pursuing something that you love, feeds your passion, is creative, and has purpose. I’ve found it is when you lose track of time doing something. Even though you are working, it doesn’t feel like it. You actually enjoy the time spent doing the task.
How do you find flow in your work? First, you have to understand what gives you joy. A big part of that is understanding your natural talents and strengths. Make a list of things you enjoy and things that come easy to you. Ask others what they think your strengths are or take a strengths assessment, such as Gallup Clifton StrengthsFinder.
Once you identify your strengths and talents, you can work on defining your purpose. I was always told that having a purpose is figuring out what gets you out of bed in the morning. I still struggled with this concept, so instead, I started by outlining my values.. What are the top five things you value in your work? Is it money? Is it collaboration? How about ongoing learning and growth? In defining my work purpose, I’ve found that my work needs to help others. I also highly value collaboration and creativity. When I’m able to use these values, along with my strengths at work, I can easily get into the flow and don’t feel the same friction or effort typically associated with hard work.
Finding your labor of love is an ongoing journey. It involves personal exploration and self-discovery. If you continuously get back to the basics and align your strengths, values, and purpose with your work, you will find more meaning and joy in each day.
