Solo Practice

This very interesting article from the Psychology Today blog confirms that the quality of our work, more than our interpersonal relationships, determines our happiness:

One factor towered over relationships in its connection with happiness.  That factor was work. The evidence, for example, demonstrates that people who have jobs distinguished by autonomy, meaning and variety ? and who show superior performance, creativity, and productivity ? are significantly happier than those who don?t.

"Why does our work make us happy? Because it provides us a sense
of identity, structure to our days, and important and meaningful life
goals to pursue. Perhaps even more important, it furnishes us with
close colleagues, friends and even marriage partners."

This revelation, that quality of work more than anything else influences happiness, shocked even those doing the study.  But it is work distinguished by AUTONOMY and which provides meaning and variety that does the trick. Self-directed meaningful life goals are key. Welcome to the world of the solo practitioner.

Interestingly, those who are seem to be happiest (from my unscientific observations) are those who do not separate work life and personal life.  They just have 'life".  In order to feel successful work is an integral part of their everyday. And from this relationships blossom.

Anita Campbell, a very successful entrepreneur and author of the popular Small Business Trends blog, Tweeted once,

My work is part of who I am.  I'm not defined by my work, but it is integrated into the whole.

  I think she states it very well.  I feel the same way. Always have. 

And you?