I didn’t want to hustle harder. I wanted a smarter way.
Most of us were raised with the belief that hard work is the answer to everything. Work harder. Push more. Grind longer. That mindset stays with us well into adulthood, and I’ve found it can be a real detriment. Working hard is honorable. But working hard without joy, alignment, or leverage eventually takes more than it gives. What shifted everything for me was changing the question. Not “How can I work harder?” But “How can my work give me joy—like children at play?” When work feels creative, engaging, and purposeful, it stops draining life from you, and starts giving life back. That’s when I began waking up to my days again. 👉 ♿Does this resonate with you? What would change if your work supported your joy instead of consuming it?