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The New York Times recently reported on a study by Harvard psychologists using an iPhone app to sample 2,200 people’s ongoing thoughts, feelings, and actions at random intervals. Researchers Matthew Killingsworth and Daniel Gilbert conclude that “people are thinking about what is not happening almost as often as they are thinking about what is,” and “that doing so typically makes them unhappy.”

Perhaps not surprisingly, many participants in the study felt most unhappy while at work. Also, according to researchers Matthew Killingsworth and Daniel Gilbert, the minds of the participants were wandering 47 percent of the time.

What if a portion of that mind wandering was used toward a greater purpose? What if we felt most happy while at work? What would our world look like as a result?

Our upcoming book, Work on Purpose, aims to inspire and enable young people to build careers with meaning. It explores the lives of Echoing Green Fellows who have aligned their hearts and their heads to spark a career in social change. Not everyone has a bold idea to implement to solve a social problem, but all of us can work toward social good.  All of us can discover a meaningful career by syncing what we feel strongly about with what we are good at.

Instead of mind wandering, imagine being “in the zone,” and driving change. 

Photo by santurnism