At times like the ones we have been living through this year, many of us have chosen to work on something not truly aligned with what we would like, to ensure the flow of money we require in our lives. In other cases, we accept conditions or responsibilities that would otherwise be unattractive to us. If you, or someone you love is in this situation, you know exactly what I mean. Of course, it is important to consider the exchange we make in our professional life of money and perks for work and performance. But if this is your only consideration, you are definitely putting yourself at risk for an unsatisfying job that steals away more of your life than it gives back and traps you in an insufferable vicious circle that, at the very least, leaves you tired and weary.
There is however, something else to consider, that should never be absent as you go about life: a more profound exchange of energy, vitality, heart. At a deeper level, work is related to the personal satisfaction that comes from doing transcendent things, leaving a mark in the world, learning how to live better and being who you want to be, expressing your authenticity in everything you undertake. The currency we bring into the exchange is our time, our energy; basically, our life itself. The question we cannot help but answer is: What are we exchanging our life for? Whether we realize it or not, work occupies a great part of our time and is a significant expression of who we truly are being. Our life mission is expressed and expanded in everything we choose to do, including the life we spend working. As we become aware of this, we see the importance of finding ways to ensure that our work is not be a loss of life for each of us.
What to do then? Letting go of every earthly persuit to give life to your wildest dreams does not seem like a viable option? That’s because it rarely is. The person most of us, including myself, want to be is also responsible and interested in providing for self and loved ones, some semblance of finacial security for the present and foreseeable future.
Breathe, now. There is an option. One in which – unless your work is inherently immoral or harmful to mankind – it doesn’t matter what it is you do for a living now, what you have agreed to do to take care of your material requirements. It is exactly there, right where you are now, that you need to ask yourself: What am I doing here? Finding a day to day way of expressing who you are through your work is no luxury, it is a human right! You can find significance in the way you relate at work, the way you use your talents, the contributions you make for your work to benefit those directly affected by it. Whatever you do, don’t waste any more time and life. Start right away and seize any opportunity you may find in your work to be useful, to touch the lives of others, to express your authenticity. Start where you find possibility and build more as you go, right there, from where you are now. Refocus. Live. Learn. Maybe one day you will have the job of your dreams bringing in the money of your dreams. But for now… What are you doing here?
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Monica Diaz, Erzy Lopez. Erzy Lopez said: RT @monedays: New post on my blog. Does your work steal away life from you or help you express your purpose? http://bit.ly/87uAa4 [...]
Wow…great questions and insights, Monica! Love how you provoke awareness through the questions you ask, then invite us all to be more purposefully present wherever we are, and in whatever we’re choosing to do…
Monica,
As usual, you’ve hit the nail on the head with this. We all need to find a balance between pursuing our passions and putting food on the table. I realized this week in speaking with @coachcharisse how much energy I was putting into networking and extracurricular activities to grow my career in a field in which I have little to no interest. My balance is to try to keep my real job in it’s 40 hour a week box and to still explore and adventure into areas of my passions on my off hours. Maybe that will lead to a more fulfilling position, maybe not. Regardless, I’m putting more balance into my passions.
Eliz…I would invite you to explore also that, even in the “box” your day job takes up, there are nurturing people, experiences, occurrences that are a part of your passion. If you reinterpret them, you will find even more energy in your current workplace. That is, what do you see that feeds into your passions? Who do you meet there that is passionate about their own participation? What might you learn from the way you do your work that can also be applied to your passion?
As someone who is now unemployed after spending 12 years in a job I hated, I can’t tell you just how much truth this article contains. I used to ask myself every day what I was doing there. My answer always involved security, decent wages, benefits and financial stability for my family. I gave 12 years, in the end, I received walking papers. What I realize now is that I spent a lot of time climbing the ladder of success but the ladder was leaning against the wrong building. The job was so far out of line with my passions that it began manifesting physical and emotional suffering. I do know now that I could have coped better and looked for more positives to help me appreciate more of the little things but it becomes increasingly difficult when you feel like you are spiraling out of control.
I have been unemployed since July and I spent that time finding my passions and aligning my life with them. I have never felt better and all aspects of my life are greatly improved. I have lost 25 pounds and i’m back into shape. I started playing music again, i’m back into sports. I took up writing and found that I have a natural talent. I am exploring and re-learning all the things I sacrificed for money.
Money is important but when it tops your priority list, you need to adjust your priorities.
Chris
Thank you so much for sharing your perceptions here, Chris! I am touched by the authenticity of your comment. You are right on the spot, “when it tops your priority list, you need to adjust your priorities”! Money is a great thing to have that can help you fulfill your mission, but it is not a mission in itself.
[...] What are you doing here? [...]
[...] meals spikes it and heavy ones depletes it. But beyond the obvious, come the true revelations. What are you doing here? It may not be the activities per se, but what they are meaning to you at this point in your [...]