Why we define ourselves by our jobs

Why we define ourselves by our jobs Alamy We often see our jobs as a defining detail of who we are, yet too closely tying our identities to work can be dangerous. Alamy Jobs are so ingrained in our identity that one of the first things we do when we meet new people is tell them our profession “That is especially true among the ‘educated elite’,” says Wilson. “This tends to happen especially for people with jobs that are relatively self-determined, where you’re not clocking in at nine and out at five,” says Wilson. It makes it harder to connect with people who aren’t a part of your working life.” If you tie to your career, the successes and failures you experience will directly affect your self-worth - Anne Wilson When you become so enmeshed in your job that it begins to define you, you also may begin to let it determine your own value. “We often set people up to feel dissatisfied; if they don’t find themselves in that perfect job, they’ve somehow failed,” she says.