It was raining here the other day. One of those cold mixed kinds of rain that’s more like slush than anything else. As I walked down the street I passed a man washing a storefront’s windows in the rain and it got me thinking…
How many of us do the metaphoric equivalent of that every day? How many of us go to jobs that don’t nurture our life’s purpose, wasting our precious energy on pursuits that are disconnected from our authentic selves?
In the current economic climate it may seem the “safe” thing to do – better a job we don’t like than no job at all. But I challenge you to shift your perspective around that. If we’ve learned anything in the past few months, its that what was once considered “safe” is no longer necessarily so. All bets are off, so to speak and the old tried and true ways of the past no longer work in this new world.
Put that squeegee down and take a good look around you. This is the perfect opportunity to reinvent yourself!
Let’s look at a few easy steps to get you started:
1. Take stock of your current skills and interests. If you’re feeling stuck, enlist as close friend or family member to help. You’ll likely be pleasantly surprised at how much you’ve already got going for you.
2. Determine what you would like to add to what you already have to offer. Do you need to sharpen your computer or public speaking skills, for instance? Honing your skills keeps you current and marketable to a wider audience.
3. Look into ways to enhance those skills. Find out what classes are available through your local adult ed learning annex or through online courses. These are great resources for economical education opportunities.
4. Realistically access how much time you’ll have available to pursue your studies. Be honest – if you overextend yourself you’ll be less likely to follow through (think failed New Year’s resolutions here). On the flip side, look at your underutilized time and make yourself a priority when reorganizing your schedule.
5. Reach out to your peeps. Even if you’re feeling down or overwhelmed in your situation. Now is not the time to isolate yourself. Being around like-minded people will support you to in pursuing your goals.
Go ahead – make a start today. Take the first steps and as you begin to connect with your authentic self you will feel empowered to reinvent “safe” to living YOUR life on YOUR terms.
Remember, washing windows in the rain only leaves you wet.
Walkin’ in sunshine,
Lynn
