There was an interesting discussion on an episode of Adam Grant’s podcast Work Life.
Adam spoke with psychologist and author Brian Little about how our projects impact our wellbeing.
Brian wrote the books “Me, Myself, and Us” and “Who are You Really?” He believes that:
“Wellbeing depends on the sustainable pursuit of core projects.”
– Brian Little
The premise is that we need to have projects in our life to support overall wellbeing.
However, those projects need to be sustainable.
There are five features to be considered:
- Meaning – Consistent with values, enjoyable, and self-expressive.
- Manageability – Adequate time, control, and likelihood of moving to a successful end.
- Connection – Support and appreciation from others.
- Positive Affect – Positive emotions toward the project.
- Negative Affect – The sustainability of the project to ensure it doesn’t cause stress.
In addition to the five attributes above to consider, they also discussed that we need to consider the relationship between all the projects.
There might be one project that is holding the others back.
My Perspective
This construct really resonates with me.
I can imagine running my work and home projects through this lens to gain clarity and focus.
The questions make me wonder if one project is sabotaging the others.
Or maybe there are some that aren’t manageable.
Other projects may not offer enough connection or reinforcement.
I’m ready to dive in and do a bit of analysis.
Your Turn
Did this construct resonate with you?
Are any of your projects having an impact on your other projects or life in a negative way?
Do you consider the meaning of each project you take on?