How Choosing Purpose Changed Everything
Photo by Rafael Garcin on Unsplash
When I was in my early 30s, I had major life changes. I went through a divorce and lost my financial stability due to a very poor investment decision on my part. With two young children to care for and a mortgage to pay, I was reeling, trying to figure out my next steps. I had an Education degree, and I had previously worked as a teacher before I had kids. The logical choice was to apply for a teaching position to have a steady income, insurance, and retirement. I could be on the same schedule as my kids once they reached school age and enjoy the summers. I wasn’t excited about this option but chose to do some substitute teaching to get my foot in the door and grease up my rusty teaching skills. I thought that if I put myself back in the game, I would enjoy the work, and my problems would be solved.
Except they were not.
I struggled to find joy in teaching, which is why I initially quit. I loved the kids. I didn’t like all the other accountabilities and challenges that teachers face, not to mention a low salary.
I was faced with a dilemma that I find many of my clients face, too. Why do we do what we do?
As a young adult, I had a plan for what I thought I wanted to do. I feel we start on a career path and then we love it, hate it, or— even worse—tolerate it. We tolerate a job when we feel we have no other choice. I mean, there are bills to be paid! This is the reality many of us face as we trudge through a career or job that meets that goal. That seems reasonable and necessary, especially if you are supporting others.
So, the question then becomes: is it possible to live in this physical reality that requires income for our basic needs, such as food and shelter, while experiencing joy in how we earn that money?
This curiosity set me on an entirely different path in life. As stressed as I was about supporting my family and not losing my house, I was also very aware that I would be sacrificing my joy and gifts if I settled on what was safe. I listened to my intuition instead of my fears. I pivoted and took a huge leap of faith and enrolled in graduate school to study psychology. I took out a loan, created a very strict budget, and sold vitamins and nutritional supplements on the side to make ends meet. I had to hustle, but I felt energized, excited, and challenged. That’s how I knew I was on the right path for me. I was able to choose a career that I love and is very fulfilling. I made lots of sacrifices, but the rewards have far outweighed those sacrifices.
When I work with a client who is experiencing discontentment with their job, we take a deep dive into what’s important to them now. We change and evolve as we move through life. It’s important that we update our preferences and consider what would work best for our future self. I observe that somewhere along the way, we forget to dream. Let’s dream again so we can look at all the possibilities to do what you love and live the life you want!
Viktor Frankl’s philosophy was to find meaning and purpose in life. Is your life and work purposeful? That’s where the magic happens and the joy is found.
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
– Viktor Frankl
Find your way and love it!
Let the journey begin,
Martha Lynn
Fundamental of the Week #9: COMMUNICATE TO BE UNDERSTOOD
Communicate in the least complicated way. You are accountable for what people understand or misunderstand.
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