"Why happiness feels hard at work"
Over the past few emails, I’ve written about conflict, how it shows up between people, ideas, and intentions. Software is, after all, a creative process. It’s full of uncertainty and competing visions. That means conflict isn’t a sign that something’s wrong; it’s part of how something new comes to life. But still, it can wear you down. One of the problems I’ve had to face as the responsibilities of work and family have grown is how to find happiness in the middle of it all. At one point, I realised I felt no real joy, only dissatisfaction. There are still moments like that, where I have to be intentional about finding joy again. I can’t imagine I’m the only one. Most of us got into this line of work because we wanted to build things that matter. Yet somewhere between deadlines, meetings, and endless change, that sense of meaning starts to slip away. We don’t talk about it much, but I think we should. Reading The Art of Happiness at Work by the Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler shifted something for me. It suggested that happiness at work isn’t about eliminating dissatisfaction, it’s about transforming it. Over the next few weeks, I’ll explore what that means. Not the performative kind of happiness we see in company values slides, but the quieter, steadier kind — the kind that can coexist with conflict, frustration, and uncertainty. If you’ve ever wondered where the joy went, or how to get it back, you’re in the right place. Until next time, ✉️ Enjoying The Messy Middle? If someone sent this email your way and you’d like to get it direct, you can sign up here. |