Tag: loving work

The J.O.B. Paradigm

You may have noticed that the global economy is changing. The planet is taxed by over-consumption. Depression, burn-out and illnesses of all kinds are at all-time highs. I’ve personally suffered from depression and burnout. Thankfully, I’ve recovered because I’ve taken key steps that honour me. It has, however, been a journey.

Many people feel stuck on a crazy train they feel they can’t stop. How do you stop the rat race? How do you free yourself from debt or from paycheck to paycheck living? How can you create meaning in your day to day?

I’m of the belief that moulds are made to be broken. I think that an industrial economic model designed for a mostly uneducated mass with few opportunities to change their situation is hardly fit for an effervescent contemporary world with an all-access pass to the Internet.

The 40-hour work week, with set hours in a specific location did have its managerial advantages.

The lack of “work security” and the archaic time-for-money exchange (as opposed to value creation and product delivery) has depleted morale and has left many feeling trapped. It’s no wonder many people question their position in a traditional work setting, whether blue or white collar.

Find your wings, follow your true north. - Bright Star Mercedes

The J.O.B. Paradigm

I’ve often wondered where “job” comes from. A coach once told me was that a job stood for “just over broke”. It stuck with me.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve worked in traditional jobs for almost 9 years and I’m grateful for the income and experience. Soon I realized I didn’t want to make a career out of office work. In fact, I’ve recently made the jump to self-employment (I’m working from home!). Do I have a plan? Certainly. It may take adjustments to make the transition, but I believe they’ll be worth it. Life is made to be experienced, lived, enjoyed.

There’s something to be said for finding joy in your work, in your current situation. If you’re passionate, great, keep it up. If you’re not, then add love to have ground to stand on and move toward your goals. Step into an action you love even more. Know that the paradigm is outdated and is convenient for less and less people. Know that it’s ok not to fit in. Just be ready to do something about it.

If you’re feeling like the Monday-Friday 9-to-5 lifestyle doesn’t suit you, read up on Tim Ferris’ 4-hour work week and read on thought leaders such as Brendan Burchard and Anthony Robbins.

I truly hope you find your wings and follow your true north!

 What can you do to find your wings? What box can you step out of? What step can you take to be closer to your ideal lifestyle?

Love Your Work, Even If It’s Still Work

It’s been a tough concept for me to grasp since I first read Gibran’s The Prophet, that one must love their work.

You’re kidding, right?

When I was a kid, I thought I’d grow up and be a prima ballerina and dance my little heart out. That dream persisted a while. When I got into high school, I toyed with many artistic (and a few holistic) career paths , as long as I got to create. When I finished university, I was heading out into the world to be a reporter and “finally be free”, and tell the truth. Life had other plans for me, but the great Spirit has a sense of humour.

It took me 10 years to realize I would never truly be fulfilled in an office and figure out what I could do to use my talents, help people and “find fulfillment” in my work. I was looking for answers instead of listening to the ones my heart was whispering all along. But in a sense, I needed these experiences to walk my current path.

Find A Challenge You Love

Let me say this: it doesn’t have to be your passion.  Making your life’s work your passion is an incredible gift, but it doesn’t have to be the same way for everyone. Not everyone wants that. Your career (and your work), if you chose to work in this paradigm, does not have to be based on your passion. But you should enjoy the topic of your work and the way in which you are challenged. If you build a career, you should be excited about the direction in which you’re journeying, at a pace you find gratifying.

I’ve recently been given a great gift. I’ve come to realize that loving work should feel challenging, not oppressing. This isn’t an exact science. A task will be loving work for one person, while it will be someone else’s torture. It’s about whether or not you feel excited and challenged.

I was recently working with someone and went through a few hiccups and misunderstandings. It’s normal. The gift came when I realized that despite the stress of the situation, I felt blessed to be working on this project, with this person. I felt challenged to improve. Although work doesn’t always make us feel happy and peaceful, it remains a valuable experience if it challenges us and helps our growth.

It’s harder to be grateful when we’re being criticized and undermined. Once we get over the emotion, we can choose our perspective. We can choose to grow.

There are definitely kinder ways to grow however.

Work is love made visible.fw

I encourage you to find an environment that provides you with projects that challenge you, with people you appreciate. If that’s not immediately possible, add a little love to one task, then your day, then your project and environment. The fastest way across is through. And the most rewarding way across is with love; for you, for others, for your current opportunity.

Craft a life of projects.

“A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between his work and his play; his labor and his leisure; his mind and his body; his education and his recreation. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing, and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing. To himself, he always appears to be doing both.”
Lawrence Pearsall Jacks

Constantly challenge yourself professionally and personally. Make your life a series of loving projects. If you don’t love it, accept it and let it go. If you love it, give it your all and then let things take their course. Let go. Find a new project to love. You will feel enlivened by the love you feel for what you do, for what you’re creating.

How can you add more love to your work? In what ways have you found enjoyment in your work?

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