The Creative Domain: Occupation/Vocation
By Dr. Deb Majewski, EdD, LCPC
Hi! Welcome back to The Zen Life.
In this issue we’ll discuss the fifth and final component of the Creative Domain of Wellness which is Occupation and Vocation where we explore the difference between the two and how this impacts wellness and Self-care.
Work is the general term that encompasses the words job, occupation, vocation, or any type of task that is performed, paid or unpaid. An occupation with regards to work is defined as the work or job that you do. A job is typically a position a person occupies for compensation 1 . The person may or may not enjoy what they are doing but are motivated to do the job in order to get the pay. A vocation on the other hand, is a strong sense of desire or suitability to perform a certain job. 1 Many people talk about their vocation as a calling that has great meaning for them even though it may or may not have substantial financial rewards. Some people know what their vocation or calling is from the time they are young while others don’t realize it until later in life, if ever. What matters most when considering this area of wellness is satisfaction. An individual may be content to be unemployed if they have the financial resources to survive. Another individual may be miserable making a considerable amount of money at an occupation that they dislike.
Self-care in this area is related to determining whether or not you are satisfied with the work you are currently doing or if you are satisfied with not working. When people come to career counseling, they are encouraged to take assessments to determine personal and work values, skills and abilities, interests, personality, and dispositions. All of these qualities and characteristics help to determine not only what job you might be good at, what pay you are looking for, but also what you might find most satisfying as an occupation. Click on the free resources above to take any of these assessments to get a picture of where you stand in these areas. This might help you decide to make changes such as seeking a new job or getting training or education to change jobs. Another occupational issue is retirement, which can be a significant life transition.
Some important things to consider are:
– Talk with your spouse or significant other about retirement spending.
– Focus on physical health.
– Create a budget and follow it.
– Get a good investment professional.
– Watch travel expenses in retirement.
– Pay off your mortgage.
– Work longer.
– Expect to spend more.
Wherever you are in your occupational or vocational journey it is never too late to invest time and effort into considering how satisfied you are with what you are doing. Feeling content, enjoying what you do, and having enough resources contribute to your overall feeling of balance and well-being in your life.
Join me next month when we dive into the Coping Domain of Wellness. This domain has four parts; leisure, stress-management, self-worth, and realistic beliefs. We’ll begin with leisure. See you then. : )
References
1Merriam-Webster.com. (2024). Retrieved April 4, 2024.