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Finding happiness at work is a matter of choice, compatibility, finding the right "key" and perseverance. There will be plenty of people, policies and situations that will challenge one's happiness while at work.

CHOICE is the first thing to consider. Everything else flows from there.

A conscious choice to be happy no matter what anyone else wants for you is a commitment. It requires ignoring irritants, mastering pet peeves and focusing on what about the job makes you feel better.

Sometimes it's not the job but how you feel and think about the job or parts of it that will make the difference.

COMPATIBILITY between one's self and the job does not have to be 100%. It just needs to be in the ballpark. It's unlikely that a vegetarian would be a butcher in a meat shop. But, it's possible for a house-wife to substitute teach at the local elementary school. It's possible that a construction worker might enjoy blacksmithing or raising livestock.

FINDING THE RIGHT "KEY" is the same thing as finding something to make the job more interesting. This will require a good working knowledge of oneself. Take an inventory of what works for you, what interests you, what jobs or tasks have been good for you in the past. Then go out there and find it, even if you have to create the opportunity for it.

For example: I like some variety of challenges and problems to solve, I get bored easily, I like to help people, I think faster than most people, I like contests, variety puzzle books, writing, teaching.... Use what you know about yourself to invent things related to what you enjoy. I translated these things I know about myself into the following ways:

1. At my various corporate jobs with the same company, I participated in several extra curricular activities and groups. I found better ways to do repetitive parts of that job. I wrote new methods and procedures for the work, I competed against myself and co-workers every time we had production contests. I headed up a couple of newsletters, became a peer trainer, revived a toastmasters group, processed executive appeals, took classes to learn my trade better...

2. As a salesperson at a retail outlet, I found more creative ways to display clothing for sale. I made suggestions for improving sales (which worked). I made a game of guessing what would look good on each customer who walked in, and then suggested those items.

3. I hate housework and all the various things pressing for my time. It gets overwhelming. So, to tackle this, I invent list

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