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Tuesday, 04 July 2006 13:39 |
| | Janese Johnson |
A common frustration for many is the unfulfilled desire to live and work in a field that is what they are meant to do.
A big question I hear from people often is, ?®What is my purpose??∆
They are not happy with their careers and are doing their jobs because they need to pay the bills. Basically, they are buying time until the great day of retirement when they feel they can really do what they love to do.
Sadly,
what often happens is that by the time retirement happens, many are
tired and not even sure what to do with the extra time. Life has passed
them by and there is a longing and lack of fulfillment that stays with
them long after retirement. They have let life happen to them because
that is what they were raised to believe.
What Confucius said about work is, ?®Choose a job that you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.?∆
In the recent past, many have started saying yes to that way of life.
They are connecting to what they enjoyed in their earlier years and
making the changes that are needed to live the life that really
fulfills their nature. They are living in their purpose and are truly
happy because of it.
I have met so many who have done this in their life and it is exciting
to see the changes that occur within them just because they took charge
of their own destiny.
One gentleman whom I have recently met told me that he was a partner in
a medical consulting business. He was working very long hours and
feeling tired most of the time. When he found out that some decisions
were being made in grey areas, he decided that it was time to take a
sabbatical and look at how he could change his career.
He looked at what his two master??s degrees in geography and botany
offered, along with his passion for nature, and decided that he would
work with nonprofits making clearer and more informative maps in the
Asheville area. He is not getting the same pay as before, but he says
that he is happier than he has ever been. He is loving his life every
day!
Another example of someone who changed their career in the later years
is a woman that I have known for many years who owned a daycare center.
When her husband of 35 years became quite ill and passed away, Doris
knew that she needed to make some changes in her life. There was a lot
of upkeep involved with the daycare and with the property, along with
the 30 children she was responsible for every day. She took a deep look
at who she was and what she loved to do.
She realized that after being married to a university professor for so
long, one thing that she loved was sharing information with others. She
set up her 100-acre property with buildings so that she could bring
speakers, teachers, and healers from all over into her newly created
healing retreat. She also set up a small store to sell beautiful and
meaningful objects. The loss of her husband continued to be great, but
Doris found healing through the process of creating her new career. She
has since helped hundreds of people through the teachings and services
that she has provided at her healing center and she has an amazing
inner contentment that she radiates out every where she goes.
One last example of creating a career that honors the nature of the
individual is a local man named Russel. Russel was an artist for fun
when he was young, but left that for the banking profession in 1989. He
became a mortgage banker and worked long, hard hours. The money was
good, but something was missing in his life. He started connecting with
local artists and rediscovered his passion for art.
On a whim, Russel decided to open up a space in the Flat Iron Building
and without really knowing which direction his adventure would take
him, he started hanging different artists?? paintings on the walls. The
local enthusiasm grew to a point that Russel could no longer contain
his audience in the upstairs room. So when a space opened up at Twelve
Battery Park Ave., he decided to open up Discover Asheville. Everything
has fallen in place for Russel and his art gallery and he is really
happy because he is living from his true self, not the self that needs
to do a job just for the money.
One common similarity that all three of these empowered individuals
share is that they believed that they could make the changes. They were
not sitting back waiting for some miracle to come and make their lives
better. They knew that they wanted to make changes and had the courage
to show up and do what it took to make it happen.
Sure, they worried and were afraid at times, but they knew that they
were moving in a direction that was right for them. They looked at who
they are, what they enjoy, and what resources they had. And with that,
they came up with a plan that seemed to have a life of its own after
the first steps forward.
I have also
found that to be true in my career. When I am excited about what I am
doing, all I have to do is just move forward and opportunities seem to
come from nowhere. When I feel afraid or worried about everything, I
seem to shut down the vibrancy and activity of my business.
My change of career came for me 22 years ago when I was offered a
management job with a company that I was already working for as an
assistant manager.
My position was getting changed and I had to decide whether I wanted to
stay in the semi-corporate world or give it up and go with my business.
I decided to give my business a go and what happened next was really
amazing. Almost overnight my business took off and I was traveling the
U.S giving talks, sessions and teaching workshops. I was on purpose and
it showed. My career slowed down after I adopted five children, but I
now know that living in our natural self, doing work and service from
that place, can create such a magnetism that the energy and excitement
alone can be the marketing tool to help create success. Now that my
children are grown, I am feeling that in my career again.
If you are struggling with your career, then perhaps you have not
stepped into your natural groove. I believe with a deep and honest
look, a plan and the courage to follow through with it, anything is
possible.
Aristotle gave us some guidelines around 350 B.C. and what he said was,
?®First, have a definite, clear practical ideal ?? a goal, an objective.
Second, have the necessary means to achieve your goal ?? wisdom, money,
materials, and methods. Third, adjust all your means to that goal.
People are goal-seeking animals. Our lives only have meaning if we are
reaching out and striving for our goals.?∆
?ÿ
Janese Johnson
has been doing intuitive counseling nationally for more than 20 years.
She may be contacted at janesej-at-buncombe.main.nc.us.
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