“Don’t aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally.” David Frost
The Effect You Have
by Ginny Kravitz, Deputy Editor
Today’s profile demonstrates that while sometimes big changes are needed to fulfill your life’s passion, it’s not always necessary to carve out an entirely new career path. For some people, passion is directly related to the fields they choose. For others, passion exists alongside the career, each supporting the other.
Mindy’s Story
In 2006, Mindy participated in a Now What?® Group Coaching Program to explore possible new paths to take her career. Interestingly, what emerged as a powerful theme was her love of music and her desire to pick up the violin again. This clue
informed her as she sought to articulate her purpose — who she is at her core. Mindy expresses this as: to bring lightness of spirit to other people. She began to give her niece violin lessons and eventually joined a community orchestra.
Today Mindy attends weekly rehearsals and performs at concerts once a month. Mindy has had the honor of playing second chair First Violin and in order to hold her place she must practice consistently and compete with her fellow players on quality. Playing the violin is an activity Mindy enjoys alongside her full time job as a Support Availability Manager with an IT Management Software and Solutions Company.
What Mindy said upon completion of the coaching program in 2006:
“I liked the way we were to let go of our previously conceived “can’t” list and work from a place in the past when we were invited to dream more on our future… and that to do this process we had to remain open and not pigeon-hole ourselves.”
“The most meaningful discovery I made… is that regardless of where I work, I create my reality by my choices.”
What Mindy says today:
“Each week at concerts, I’m aware that by stepping out of my work reality into this other aspect of my life, I am completely taken over by it. When I am through, I notice a change in my sense of self. It challenges me in a way I am not utilizing for work, and I am giving something that seems very tangible to people who get a new experience at every concert we play. It is a bit Zen-like because when I am through, my senses are reawakened, I even breathe differently, and I am at peace — I don’t get that any place else. I almost can’t drive my car correctly after rehearsals!”
What Affects You?
What accompanied Mindy’s clarity of purpose was not a drastic career change but rather a desire to pick up the violin again after many years. Just as she wanted to “bring lightness of spirit” to others, Mindy experiences lightness of spirit when she abandons herself to the music. And so it goes with living your purpose. The effect you have on others is directly related to what affects you deeply.
This Week, consider:
Like playing the violin for Mindy, what affects you deeply? What kinds of things are you drawn to? When you are engaged in them, what is the effect you have on others?
What brings you lightness of spirit? Whatever it is, make some room for it this holiday season and share it with those around you.
Today’s Quote-Something You Love
“I honestly think it is better to be a failure at something you love than to be a success at something you hate.” George Burns
Papa School, Priorities, and Paradigms
These economic times are the impetus to reevaluate our priorities, as demonstrated by today’s article and accompanying video. See what one father in Japan is doing to make a difference for not only his own family, but others as well.
These economic times are the impetus to reevaluate our priorities, as demonstrated by today’s article and accompanying video. See what one father in Japan is doing to make a difference for not only his own family, but others as well. You know an idea is a good one when it goes global.
Today’s Quote-What is possible
“Knowledge of what is possible is the beginning of happiness.” George Santayana
PROTECTING YOUR DREAM; SET BOUNDARIES
by Now What?® Coaching Founder, Laura Berman Fortgang
Stepping out and taking risks, whether it’s starting a new venture or launching a job search, is a big deal and it needs to be
protected from naysayers and doubters. Without protection, your own fears can kick in and start to dominate, reducing the amount of action you are willing to take. No action=no results=fears confirmed=SNAFU!
What’s the answer? Training the people around you to behave in ways that fuel you and your dream and not detract from it. Sound selfish? Good. It is. And it’s exactly what it takes to make a dream come true.
People who reach the goals they set for themselves know that they need to set boundaries that keep them and their dream safe. Boundaries are a fancy word for ‘NO’. You have to say no to influences that will keep you from achieving what you want. Unfortunately, setting those boundaries means you are changing the rules in many of your relationships. This in itself takes courage, but I can tell you, you will be better for it.
For example, Marianne was an executive who made $200,000 a year. She had grown so tired of her work, where she had to live, and how much travel she had to do, that she wanted to make a change. She knew moving across the country and finding new work would probably mean a salary reduction, but she did not care. The people in her life, however, cared very much. Her colleagues, in-laws and friends accused her of losing her mind and were very critical of her. She began to question herself when she realized she had to stop talking about the change she was making with those that did not approve in order to stay on course.
She came to seek support only from those people in her life, even new people, who were willing to see for her what she saw for herself. She successfully made her move and was very happy with the results.
Pulling her dream from those that wanted to tromp on it, was a form of setting boundaries. In other cases, you might need to actually train other people on how they have to behave around you. Yes, that may mean actually telling people the truth. Like:
“When you doubt me, it makes me doubt myself, so I won’t be asking for your opinion anymore.”
“I need to hear what’s good about this, not what can go wrong.”
“I know you count on me to be here for you when you need to talk, but right now, I need to focus on a problem of my own and need you to listen to me.”
People, like puppies, are trainable, if you are kind and persistent. You can draw lines in the sand and keep negative influences away from you.
And in case you need one for your Thanksgiving gathering, here’s one more script:
“This is a time for being grateful for each other. Can we save the bickering for next year?”
Based on Chapter 11 of “Now What? 90 Days to a New Life Direction”, “You Don’t Have To Do It Alone”.