Modern thinking seems to be dominated by two conflicting conceptions of 'work' and the role it should play in our lives.
The first idea is that our work and personal lives are two separate domains. They are ruled by separate concerns, needs and motivations. We should aim for a 'work/life balance' but we shouldn't 'bring our work home' or 'mix business with pleasure'. In effect, we're actually two different people depending on whether we're at work or at home.
The best account I read of this was by Michael Foley in his book The Age of Absurdity. I don't have the book handy but the impression it left is that we somehow put our more sincere feelings on hold when we step into the office. The workplace has its own set of (absurd and unwritten) rules and constraints. At its heart is the need to maintain a shallow cheeriness, a veneer of self/group-enforced 'workaday' pleasantries that makes the whole enterprise work-able (excuse the pun). To try to reveal one's true feelings in this setting would be nigh on impossible and almost definitely counter-productive.
Its an idea that I can definitely relate to. I suspect most others can too.
The second line of thinking is that we should essentially be living our work. Our work should be our reason to be and should be motivated by the same values that drive us in our private lives. It's an idea that has become increasingly influential as technology has made us contactable any where, any place, any time, allowing work to seep into previously private corners of our lives. It appeals to idealists (and freelance social media 'gurus') because it holds out the promise to end drudgery and unite our lives. After all, 'If you choose a job you love, then you'll never have to work a day in your life'.
A difficult concept to argue with. But in my experience one that's even harder to put into practice. There just aren't enough good jobs to go around. For every fashion designer, doctor or astronaut, there are countless shelf stackers, call centre workers or office drones. But there's an even more fundamental tension at work.
Most jobs are not driven by the things that really motivate us - feeling loved, being a useful part of society, having purpose, getting better at stuff, fulfilling our potential. They may tangentially satisfy some of these needs but all as secondary to the real business - 'efficiency' for the purposes of making money.
So perhaps the problem isn't work itself but the kind of work we do at most jobs?
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