Aligning Work with Your Life Purpose
By Debra Thorsen
If you are doing work that is right for you, you will get energy from
your work. Sunday nights and Monday mornings will be joyous and you will
know that your head and your heart are in sync.
Often my coaching clients' passions and interests are completely
unrelated to the work they are performing. Well, that's why they call it
work, right? Wrong! I believe that our work is our greatest opportunity to
express ourselves in this world. Work, if aligned with our true selves, can
be the purest form of self-expression.
Work as Duty
Too often, we let our "shoulds" guide us down the conventional career
path and then at mid-career we wake up and think, "how did I get here?".
Every time I feel a "should" creeping into my thinking - I need to stop and
be aware of where this "should" is coming from. Most of our "shoulds" we
pick up from other people - our parents, grandparents, teachers, friends,
and others. Rarely is a "should" an authentic guide to what will bring us
happiness or fulfillment in life. I recommend living by the saying "don't
should on me".
Work as Energy
I also believe that we incorrectly view our jobs from a limited viewpoint
that doesn't understand how energy flows in the universe. I will work 40
hours and receive $$$$. Our goals is often to work the least amount of time
possible for the most amount of money.
Work is really a giving activity. It is a path of service. I give 100% of
myself and talents. I give unselfishly of my energy. And I receive energy in
return in the form of money. In this viewpoint, our goal is to provide the
most value possible, knowing that the universe will match our energy in
return.
I have a coaching client who has decided to go to graduate school and get
her masters degree. She is trying to decide between two programs. One is a
more traditional program that will prepare her for a myriad of corporate
jobs when she graduates. The other program will set her on a path to be a
freelancer. She knows that her heart is not in the first program, but feels
it is her "safer" option. She is afraid to choose the unconventional
program.
Follow Your Heart to Discover Meaningful Work
Why are we so afraid to follow our hearts and pursue our bliss? Why have
so many of us lost our inner compass? One reason is the
over-intellectualization of our culture. Ever since the Scientific
Revolution, we have favored our intellect over our intuition. The Scientific
Revolution has definitely improved the quality of life for many people and
has freed us from some destructive superstitions, but at what price? I'm not
going to address this question at the macro level (environmental issues,
distribution of wealth, etc.) but at the individual micro level.
Our society and its educational institutions teach us to live in our
heads. We favor our rational intellects and many of us are disconnected from
our hearts and bodies. Without this connection, it is difficult to use our
inner compass to chart our life course and follow our bliss. I work with my
clients to integrate the head, heart, and body so that they are functioning
holistically from their body-minds.
I worked with one woman who wanted to find work that she was passionate
about. She told me, "I just need to sit down and think about this some
more." And therein lay her trap. We often believe that if we just think
harder about something, a solution will present itself. When it comes to
finding work you are passionate about, the answer will not come from your
rational, logical brain - it will come from your heart and soul. To connect
with your heart and soul, you need to be able to access your emotions and
body sensations in real-time and connect them to your thoughts.
If you don't believe me, then think of peak moments in your life -
moments when you felt happy, blissful, relaxed, energized - like all was
well with the world. Where did this feeling come from? Your head or your
heart?
To discover meaningful work, you need to connect with your heart by
paying attention to your emotions. Dismiss any shoulds that appear. And
pursue work from a path of service, knowing that this is the legacy you will
leave to future generations.
Find out how to break free from the corporate world. Debra Lea Thorsen is
a happy corporate escapee who helps individuals create real wealth and
happiness without 9 to 5 jobs. Visit
Fearless Guides
for free tips on career change.
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