I was inspired to write this blog after listening to a conversation on a dental podcast, where a practitioner shared how, shortly after graduation, they found their daily work becoming repetitive and uninspiring. It made me think—why does this happen to some professionals while others seem to stay motivated and passionate about their work? This thought led me to explore the deeper meaning behind what we do and how connecting with our purpose can transform the way we experience our work.
Much like exercise, work can sometimes feel tedious, but those who regularly exercise don’t focus on the immediate discomfort. Instead, they remember the deeper purpose behind it—improving fitness, health, mental clarity, and overall quality of life. This sense of purpose transforms daily exercise from a tiresome chore into a stepping stone toward a greater goal. In the same way, rediscovering the deeper meaning behind your work can change how you experience even the most routine tasks.
Many of us move through life without fully identifying or understanding our purpose, often doing tasks just because “it’s part of the job”. However, those who do discover their purpose—and live by it—experience a greater sense of satisfaction and fulfilment, even in mundane tasks. For dental team members, the deeper meaning could be one or more of the following:
- Personal Fulfilment: Your job provides a means to live your life—whether it’s financial security, supporting your family, or allowing you to pursue personal passions outside of work.
- Team Contribution: Your work helps support and uplift your team. When you show up with a positive attitude and a willingness to help, you contribute to a healthy, productive work environment.
- Patient Care and Compassion: At the heart of every dental practice is patient care. Your actions—whether greeting a patient warmly or assisting in a procedure—directly impact the experience and well-being of each patient.
Existential Mattering
There is immense comfort in believing that your life and actions matter in the grand scheme of things. This conviction is called “existential mattering”, and it plays a significant role in how meaningful your work feels. Research consistently shows that feeling like you’ve made a positive impact on others enhances your belief that your life is meaningful. In other words, when you realise how your work positively affects those around you, your day-to-day tasks take on new significance.
Reflective Exercise
To connect more deeply with your purpose, try this simple reflective exercise. It will help you identify the values that drive your work and how you can bring more meaning to your daily tasks:
- Find a quiet place to sit. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Reflect on moments at work when you felt truly delighted, appreciated, or fulfilled. It could be an interaction with a patient, a kind word from a co-worker, or a day when everything just clicked.
- Write down key words or phrases. Think of the feelings and experiences associated with those moments. Were you feeling supported? Valued? Connected to your purpose? Write down words that stand out to you.
- Identify your values. From these words, begin to identify the values that are most important to you in your work. Is it compassion? Teamwork? Excellence? Write these values down.
- Review your last working day. Consider each person you interacted with—whether a co-worker, boss, or patient. Reflect on whether your interaction left them feeling better, supported, or uplifted. How might you have brought your values into those interactions?
- Connect intention with action. As you think about your interactions, ask yourself how you can bring more of your values into your daily work. When you link your intentions to thoughtful, intentional actions, you create a positive impact that brings meaning to what you do.
When you make a conscious effort to connect your daily tasks with your values and purpose, your work transforms from a series of monotonous tasks into meaningful actions that contribute to a greater goal. Suddenly, answering the phone isn’t just answering the phone—it’s the first step in providing a patient with quality care. Daily tasks aren’t just about getting things done—it’s about ensuring the practice runs smoothly so that patients have the best experience possible.
Understanding how your actions impact others and align with your purpose, even the most tedious tasks become meaningful, bringing a sense of fulfilment and satisfaction to your work life.