I am at a point of transition. It is me who has lost my taste for what I am doing for a living and is now considering a move into something I am passionate about.
Does that resonate with you? Do you feel it?
I think most of us do not mind working hard. It is part of our commitment to earning a living and keeping ourselves and our families financially abundant. It is whether we feel that our work is of consequence and significance that sometimes makes it seem hard or easy.
There are a lot of discussions right now in the West about the search for meaning in our work and what it means. But what is meaning, and where do we find it?
I am reading Parker Palmer’s book Let Your Life Speak for the second time. It is about vocations and finding our authentic selves in work and life in general. I would not have had the maturity or understanding to read this book many years ago, but it is a word in the right season of my life now.
Perhaps many of us, and indeed it is true in my case, have not always been able to chase lofty dreams of our ideal occupation. Economics and family situations have been priorities for much of our time. We should, however, have a plan to get ourselves into a position where we can use our gifts and enjoy our work at some point.
We all start ‘sweeping the floor’ for a living, and those who refuse often find disaster due to the character deficits that surface later from avoiding that process of personal development.
“No man deserves sympathy because he has to work – far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”
– Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States
Palmer tells of the deep emotional trials, all the doors that closed and the simple wisdom he encountered that led him to become a much sought-after speaker, retreat leader and educational advisor.
I sometimes wonder whether being born into affluence is as bad as being born into poverty. Perhaps being born into money enables the delusion that pain and character development can be avoided. There is a defined pattern, and we cannot escape trials by paying someone else to do our ‘developmental push-ups’ for us.
We all see people who want a quick, easy way to the goal. What really works is a sort of ‘compounding interest’ combined with wisdom over time. This applies not only to money but also to human character.
I like this quote from the book, which I hope we will all fulfil in our lives.
‘The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.’
– Frederick Buechner
We need hard times to reach through to a higher level of success, resilience and stability. It is through these that we find our next transition and ultimately, our meaning.
I remind myself and my clients that there is a road for you that no one else can walk and there are good things in store for you. I would say that dreams are good and divinely installed to make us constantly reach for the better thing.
Remember that being different is your biggest asset and you don’t have to be like everyone else. If you need a career coach, drop me an email or private message today to get you on the right track.
Dave Brebner.
About the Author:
As a neurodiverse public speaker and presenter, Dave Brebner specialises in using educational neuroscience to explore pathways for professionals and engage in inclusive discussions for diverse audiences. Living with Tourette’s Syndrome, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, ADHD, and Anxiety Disorders since an early age, he is married with six children and one grandchild. He recently added a Master of Educational Neuroscience to his qualifications to further deepen his understanding of the neurodiverse mind, including his qualifications in Trades & Training, Adult Education, Vocational and Workplace Training, and a Master of Education degree in Career Development. Dave is a professional member of the Career Development Association of Australia, and you can learn more about Dave’s work at www.davebrebner.com.