A labor of love
It’s Labor day.
Many celebrate having a long weekend. It's a break from work. Time for one of the summer’s last BBQ. Time for one last weekend get-away. An extra day of rest. Honoring those who fought for better working conditions.
For others, today and this time of year is a time for self reflection.
I woke up this morning reflecting on work and on callings. They are two different things. You work to pay the bills, to cover your expenses, and to meet your obligations. It’s called “earning a living." When you pursue our calling you follow your purpose, by using your god given talents, gifts, and abilities. Those things that come naturally, things that energize you, things that give you a feeling that you are making a difference in the lives of others, and being of service.
In Denzel Washington’s motivational and inspiring commencement speech dresses at a university, he says we all have different talents. He goes on to say:
True desire in the heart for anything good is god’s proof to you sent beforehand to indicate that its yours already.”
I listen to that speech frequently. It inspires me to pursue my dreams and to help others do the same.
What is it that calls you? What does that voice in your head that won’t seem to go away say to you? That voice, that divine discontent, is your calling. Your purpose. That feeling that there is something more. Something that you would be happier doing. That voice is something to pay attention to. After all, you’ve tried to ignore it; yet it doesn’t go away.
“Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it.” ~ Buddha
You’ve probably heard the quote - if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life. When you do work you enjoy, it becomes playful, it feeds your soul and energizes you.
One of the questions I ask my coaching clients is: "if money weren’t an object, what would you do?" You may find that question difficult to answer at first. You may have denied yourself permission to dream, or to pursue a path that seems less than “responsible.”
I remember distinctly sitting at a table outside in an open air mall in California years ago. One of my girlfriends had just come back from a workshop on “What Color Is Your Parachute” by Richard Bolles. She’s completed the career exploration exercise “Seven Stories Analysis.” Now she was asking me… “if you could do anything in the world, what would that be?” I agonized over the question. First I said I didn't know. She persisted and said, "if you did know, what would that be?" Finally I said “coaching.” My answer was almost immediately followed by “yes, but, you don’t understand…my kids are in middle school, I don’t have the luxury of quitting a full-time job with a steady paycheck and benefits. It’s not practical or responsible.”
At the time, it didn't feel like the right time to pursue my dream. I was a single parent raising children. I felt the need to put some of my aspirations on hold. Can you relate?
Divine discontent would show up. There were times I felt I was settling. Was I was taking the easy way out. Especially since I knew my passion and purpose, was I playing it small? Was I denying the truth of who God created me to be? Or, was I accepting that for everything there is a season?
If you have kids, keep in mind your children are going to be small for a very short period of time. In the blink of an eye, they will grow up and leave home. When they do, likely you will be in your 40’s or 50’s – with 20 or more years ahead of you. Like me, you’ll have plenty of time to do what you want to do.
Some may be reading this is thinking that staying in a job when you have a clear picture of your calling is “playing it safe.” That’s their opinion. Only you know what’s right for you.
No matter what your present circumstances, take time to reflect and explore the question. What is it you love to do? Maybe the answered is buried deep in your subconscious. That’s okay. It means you have the opportunity to go on a treasure hunt. We’ll explore that together in my article on “Safari.”
Until you discover and are able to do the work you would “love” to do, learn to love the work you do now. Put your heart into it.
"Work is love made visible." ~ Khalil Gibran
Seize the opportunity to bring your best self to your work. If you have a job, even if it doesn’t fulfill your longing, be grateful for the blessing of a steady paycheck and benefits. Be grateful you are able to meet your financial responsibilities. Think of your current circumstances as a gestation period, temporary until you are able to give birth to your passion and follow your calling. If you are out of work the universe has already cleared a path for you to answer your calling.
Let your work be a labor of love.