Yesterday I went to Magic Mountain, a fun theme park, with my kids and some friends. As we walked (well, scampered, really) through the park and rode various rides, I noticed something that made me think of a blog I wrote just a few weeks ago about enjoying your job more. Unlike Disneyland, where everyone who works in the park generally stays 'in character' and focuses on the enjoyment of the guests and nothing else for their entire shift, there was a variety of commitment that most other park employees showed toward their jobs, mirroring what we find in most fields, especially customer service-oriented ones.

Some of the park employees were friendly enough, but obviously watching the clock. These people were pleasant, but not really smiling. They did their jobs perfunctorily, and were nice, but were obviously 'working'. Many people approach their jobs this way--they manage to get by, and do a decent job, but they look forward to breaks and days off, and would quit their jobs immediately if they didn't need the money. The can't imagine things any other way.

Contrast this with the guy who ran 'The Scrambler'--I didn't catch his name, so I'll refer to him as "Scrambler Guy", or "S.G." for short. S.G. acted like he was having as much fun running the ride as we were having on it! Where other people might turn on the ride and turn it off after several minutes, staring off into space and imagining being at home while the ride was running, S.G. was constantly keeping things interesting: asking us if we want to go faster (of course!), reminding us that there are churros to be had (yum!) and providing us a soundtrack with his "beat boxing" (which wasn't great, but I had to admire his effort). His energy was infectious, and I found myself happy to ride the ride three times in a row and hear his commentary throughout. I made the comment to him that he seemed to really enjoy his job, and he replied something like, "Ya gotta make it fun, right?"

Well, actually, not everyone does approach their job like S.G. does, but those who do--those who use their creativity and energy to go beyond their basic job description and create a better experience for themselves and those around them--tend to enjoy their jobs more, experience less job burnout, and generally enjoy life more.

The good news is that most of us have the ability to change our approach to our jobs, and make the job more fun. And with an extremely competitive job market out there, that's usually much easier than switching jobs, so it's a good route to pursue if possible. Think about it: if S.G. came to work at your company, how would he approach the job to make it more fun? How might you approach your job differently?

More Job Satisfaction Resources:

Make Your Job More Fun

What Makes A Job Great?

Respond: How Can You Improve Your Work Experience?

Find Satisfaction At Your Current Job

Poll: What Causes You The Most Stress?

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Many of the questions I hear about stress are asked more than once, by different people; many of the stressful situations that people face are shared by many. Below are a few answers to frequently asked questions. If you have a question that you don't see addressed, you can post it in the comments, the forum or send me an email--your question could be included in the next round of FAQs.

What Coping Strategies Are Effective?
"I need help with coping strategies! I've worked very hard to build up security in my life, and now because of tough economic times, I find myself with few assets that are worth anything and a precarious job situation. These stresses are even taking a toll on my relationships! I feel like everything I've worked so hard for, everything I thought I'd always be able to count on, is falling apart. What coping strategies can help with this?" Read on for the answer, and an invitation to leave your own answers.

Can Simple Tips For Managing Stress Actually Work?
"I'm feeling completely overwhelmed, and am having difficulty managing stress! I keep reading about simple things like breathing exercises or meditation, but they can't change my life. How can these tips for managing stress help?" Read more for more on managing stress.

Read Stress FAQs

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I recently visited my friend and colleague Carl Lanore on his Super Human Radio show, and we discussed optimism, pessimism and the ways these perspectives can impact us in the face of crises and setbacks. We had a very interesting discussion, as the topic is more applicable to many people this year than it has been in past years when so many people weren't facing financial stress and all the other stressors that can come with it. One concept that came up is the idea that pessimists may be safer than optimists in some ways. While I still endorse optimism and love the benefits that come with this perspective in life, we discussed how unbridled positive thinking can cause disillusionment when things don't go our way in life.

This is a commonly addressed theme, and many of my readers have had the same question. Here's a more detailed answer to the question: are pessimists better off?

Is It Safer To Be A Pessimist?

More On Optimism, Pessimism, And Positive Psychology

• Benefits of Optimism
  

• Positive Psychology
  

• Benefits of Gratitude
  

• Gratitude and Sleep
  

• How To Be More of an Optimist
  

• Join My Gratitude Group
  

What's your take on this? Leave your thoughts in the comments section.

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I know, I know, it seems early to be talking about 'The Holiday Season', right? I mean, it's only the beginning of November! (Wow, it's the beginning of November ALREADY?) Seriously, though, with a holiday stress poll saying that the vast majority of my readers find the holidays stressful, I wanted to help you relieve some of that holiday stress with a secret weapon that you can use for a limited time only: an early start! Here are some things you can do now that will help you create a much less stressed next-two-months.

Holiday Stress Relief
What causes all the stress of the holiday season, and what can you do to manage it? Read this article now, and get a handle on the stress before it begins. This is the season to enjoy it all!

Dealing With Difficult People
As the holiday season approaches, you're likely going to see more of people: more family at holiday gatherings, more of your co-workers at holiday parties, and more people when you're traveling and shopping. Here are some tips for dealing with the difficult people in your life.

Take The Free E Course on Holiday Stress Relief!
The holiday season can be a time of great stress. Fear not! This free 5-week e-course helps you get prepared for the holiday season without all the stress and let the joy of the season shine through. Now is a great time for this e course--you can get the 'work' of the holidays out of the way easily, and in time to enjoy the holidays the way they were meant to be enjoyed--with less stress!

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