Putting Your Career in the Proper Perspectiver

Putting Your Career into Proper PerspectivennBy the time my own career started to take off, I was past 30 and had 2 small children. When I look back now, I think I may have unwittingly put them 2nd, indeed, even neglected them at times. I tell you this because I think it's important to keep your career pursuits in the proper perspective. It is a balancing act to go for your dream, "Follow your Bliss", as Joseph Campbell put it, and still be there for your family and friends. On the one hand, you need to stay focused on your vision, single-minded in your passion for the dream, and on the other hand, you cannot ignore your life and the every day issues that arise in it.nnI have found that if I get up every day and just sit quietly for a couple of minutes, not thinking too much, but just being, the day itself lets me know where I need to go, and what I need to be doing. I put one foot in front of the other and allow a higher power to guide me through the day. Sometimes I find myself what could seemingly be considered off track, like driving down a street and making a wrong turn into a strange neighborhood. But I soon discover that I am in the exact place I need to be. Sometimes these side paths lead to my meeting some person who can help me grow the studio, or I find some inspiration from running into a landscape that I hadn't noticed before.nnMy conclusion is that if I stay in the present moment and remain open to all possibilities, I can hold my dream in place while still taking care of what's in front of me to handle. Does that make sense? You might try NOT turning on the TV the minute you wake up. For just a week or so, set your alarm for a few minutes earlier, so you can spend a few precious moments with just YOU. Now just listen. You might hear traffic noise, or birds singing, or children stirring, but if you stay put, just listening, and not resisting the outside sounds, your inner voice will begin to come through and talk to you. It may say something like "My dream is within me, always, and I remain confident that today I am led to the exact place I need to be to make it happen." Isn't this a better way to get out of bed each day than listening to the news and someone trying to sell you something blaring in your ears?nnI am not advocating isolation from the world here. Certainly we can not escape from what is going on in our environment. But we can and should, in our early waking moments, affirm our resolve and our heart's desires, even for a few seconds, and then get on with our day's task list. It gives me a balance for the day and keeps me even-keeled all day long. You could try it if you like. And let me know how you're doing. You can post to the Board on the website or email me directly. You know already that I answer every single email personally, so communicate! We're here!