What do you want to do with your life?
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Remember when you were young and a grown up, usually someone who seemed ancient, would ask: What do you want to be when you grow up? Did you have an answer? Was it a fireman or astronaut? A ballerina or mountain climber? Or did you shyly mumble that you didn’t know.
Some people have always been aware of an inner desire to ‘be’ something specific. You know the type; they were whizzes in science class because they always wanted to be a marine biologist. Now you meet up with them on MySpace and find out they are working at SeaWorld and loving it. Others go through a big part of their lives saying, “I don’t like this job, but I don’t know what else to do.”
Those who always ‘knew’ what they wanted to do in life have no special quality the rest of us don’t possess. They simply listened to the signs showing them what they loved and were good at, and no authority figure put a kibosh on their desires. Unfortunately, it seems that well meaning adults often try to dissuade us from our inner knowing. They believe they are protecting us from aiming too high and getting disappointed. Too often, those at a impressionable age listen and put dreams aside.
Buried, but not forgotten
I remember at 8, I gave my first presentation in our church. Girls were not allowed to stand and speak; we had to perform an educational skit of sorts sitting in chairs. I loved to give those presentations and I would receive many compliments for how well I did with my presentation. So many times, I’d see the boys standing to speak and I knew I could do much better than they. This love of presenting was pushed aside as I was told this was not any way for a girl to make a living. It was pushed aside, but it never died. It took many years before I was able to bring back this experience and allow it to grow into work that I love doing.
Each day is like a magical sunrise!
This is why I now coach others to find their life’s work. I know how much happier I am now as compared to when I worked for others. Yes, those jobs paid bills, but they also drained me. My new career as a coach not only pays my bills, but it provides me with a never ending smile at the end of the day. I know you can have the same results!
Your personal history is a valuable resource to you. Your experiences and accomplishments can be used to create a desired future. Identifying what used to feed your spirit will provide the beginnings of a personal “gift basket” of qualities and aptitudes which can now be used to move forward to reach new goals in your career. Start working toward the right career for you and really enjoy every moment you are given!
Lesley V. Ingves
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