Do you think there's more to life than just having a nice car, a house, and well-paying work? Have you ever wondered if you could lead a more purposeful life by finding your calling rather than just settling for a fitting job?
That's what happened to Greg Washington, who left his 6-figure job to follow his dream. The day he left his job, he called Jerome Myers of DreamCatchers, who inspired him to make his dream a reality.
They talked on an episode of Jerome's podcast about how Greg found the courage to bring purpose to his life and to let his vision lead him by healing from trauma and grief.
Greg had already found his dream career, and all he needed was a nudge to take the plunge. Jerome helped him get a clear idea of what was awaiting him down the road. He also gave him a plan with milestones to help him achieve his dream incrementally.
For some of us, our dream career is obvious, since it's what we've always wanted to do. For others, it's not that straightforward. Many people feel at a loss as to what they want to do with their lives. All they feel is that “this” is not what their life is supposed to look like, as they wonder how their own sense of meaning can be applied to service in the world.
But how can one find his dream career? Something that motivates you to grow as a person and change the lives of others around you?
Feeling lost in your career path and not knowing what you're capable of isn't a catastrophe. Most of the time, we're so absorbed in doing our current jobs, that we don't have the time to think about what we really want to do.
Here, it really helps to imagine that you already have the perfect conditions to do whatever you want in life. What if there were no restrictions in terms of resources, options and opportunity? This visualization pretty much clears the clutter of external factors and provides you with a general idea of what’s possible and what you can aspire to.
So, try asking yourself these questions: What would I do if...
As you answer these questions, you might find out that they all center around a single job or theme. For example, you detect that working with kids is repeated in your answers. The insights will give you more clues as to what you’re looking for or at least what’s missing from your current career path. With further inquiry and self-reflection, you can jumpstart your move toward making the right decision!
Your dream career is something that lights up the fire inside you. What was the last time that doing a specific activity made you feel invigorated, purposeful, or fulfilled? Think of the reasons why you felt so. What exactly about doing that activity evokes those feelings in you?
Whether it's taking on a challenge, helping others, or solving a problem, try to find the motivating factor and channel your activities around its fulfillment.
And here's a seemingly weird idea Greg shared. Use death as motivation. Every year, millions of people pass away at a young age without seeing their goals realized. Use your gift and the limited time you have in this world to leave a fingerprint of your own, unique contribution.
And don't wait for difficulties to hit to make that change. Make the effort to change your life because you want to, not because you have to.
Another way to nail down your strengths is to look at your skills. What are you good at doing? More often than not, when we're adept at doing something, there's more than one strength at work.
Think about the things that made you good at doing something. It takes more than one talent to be exceptionally skillful at something. Make a list of all your unique skills and innate qualities that require you to perform well on a certain task. This list can give you great insight into skills that went unnoticed because you focused on that one overarching skill.
Your previous jobs or projects can help you discover what work cultures help you thrive. Think about the jobs you had before, and where you excelled. Knowing what your favorite work culture looks and feels like enables you to pin down the kind of ecosystem in which you can be the best version of yourself. Do you prefer working with others or do you want to be autonomous? What values are important to you? And what do you have zero tolerance for?
Your hobbies can tell you a lot about a career that can spark passion in you. What we do during our spare time is free of all obligations. We just do it because we're drawn to it, not because we have to.
Even if the activity is not exactly what your dream job can be, it reveals your area of interest and ability. Is your hobby practical, artistic, athletic, or intellectual? Does it require a special kind of talent or skill? Do you think you can turn it into a serious line of work?
Another indicator of interest is the type of information you seek out. Look at your browser history. What do you search for when you're online? What YouTube videos do you watch? What pages on social media do you follow?
You can't figure out your calling without uncovering your authenticity. Different professions require certain personal traits without which you can't succeed. They're not necessarily your strengths and weaknesses. They’re just who you are.
Are you a people person, or do you enjoy working solo? Do you like being in the spotlight or do you prefer to work under the radar? Are you reactive or proactive? Do you like taking risks, or do you prefer sticking to a predictable routine?
When you know what kind of person you are, it's much easier to figure out what you're supposed to do with your life. Be realistic, and see if you have what it takes to be successful in a specific field.
Sure, we can train ourselves to behave in certain ways if we have to. But some of these traits come naturally to us and make us feel comfortable in a career that requires them. Ask any personal development guru, and you’ll hear that developing natural strengths as opposed to improving on weaknesses is key to success!
That's a pivotal question in determining your dream career path. After all, we spend a good part of our lives working. And if you're passionate enough about your work, you'll continue to do it way after retirement.
So, knowing your priorities and life goals helps you decide what career path is the best one for you. For some people, money is the highest priority, and they're willing to go to any lengths, as long as the job pays well. For others, having the right life-work balance is the prime concern. They may not care if their job doesn't pay well as long as they can spend time with their families or have enough free time to focus on other aspects of life.
Do you want to help others, lead people, or make a difference in the world? Whatever it is, remember that a dream job should allow you to have your preferred lifestyle rather than checking all the boxes of what seems successful.
As kids, we all lived in our imagination, creating all kinds of pictures in our heads about our future. But when the reality of life set in, we tried to follow in others’ footsteps. When our friends, families, or society told us to take a particular path because it's the only right thing to do, we all forgot our dreams and possibilities.
But if we're lucky enough, somewhere amid the mess, we get to stop to think, "Is this really what I've always wanted to be?"
But no matter how strongly you start to chase your dreams, you need constant inspiration to move along. It's the fuel that burns every day and provides you with the strength to continue despite any obstacles. Therefore, you need a daily reminder that reminds you why you’re doing what you’re doing and to push through your plans.
While every single person might have his or her own personal inspiration to go after their dreams, here are the most important things that make our plans worthwhile.
When you achieve your personal goals, it's not only you who'll benefit. Think about how you're going to change other people's lives around you.
First of all, your family will be proud of you. There's nothing more fulfilling for parents to see their children thrive. What's more, you'll be able to provide for them, which can be a strong motivation for many people who struggle with poverty.
Plus, you'll turn into a source of inspiration for others. People around you will see you as a role model who proves to them no dream is ridiculous, and that everybody is capable to live the life they deserve.
To be impactful in the world, you don't need to be a world leader who strives to bring peace to the world. The impact you create in your own small circle can be powerful enough to create a domino effect, changing many lives around you.
It might have turned into a cliché that people often use to justify giving in to their desires, but you really live only once! Life’s too short to live based on what is dictated by others.
People who follow their goals prove to be happier, healthier, more independent, courageous, and trend-setting. Accomplishing plans proves to us that there are no boundaries. We learn that all the boundaries created by cultures, traditions, and societies fade away as we discover that everything is possible with passion and hard work.
Society not only dictates the path we should take in our lives, but it also defines us. We come to know ourselves by the picture others paint of us. Our abilities and weaknesses don't reflect our true potential, but what others have instilled in us through a lifetime of conditioning.
Breaking away from these definitions gives us a chance to prove people wrong. You can use those who laughed at your plans as a benchmark of how dedicated you should be to see the plans through and prove the “impossible” wrong.
When you don't have a dream to follow, what leads you in life? You'll be empty, moving in circles, and staying in the same place for years. Your goals act as destination points and anchors that create a roadmap for your future.
Life is inherently meaningless. It's our goals, aspirations and mindset that make it meaningful. You might settle for something safe to avoid difficulties, but you'll end up regretting doing so and will wonder how your world could have been different if you hadn't let go of your dreams.
Life is difficult. And it can get even more complicated when you try to accomplish a goal. But it's the very goal that gives you a reason to keep moving. That's what makes life worth living!
Chasing your dreams takes a lot of courage, as you’ll be required to face many insecurities and fears. But once you set foot on the path of achieving your goals, you'll see how fulfilling it can be.
In order to find your dream career, you need to get a clear understanding of your strengths and weaknesses, things that ignite passion in you, and your goals and ideals.
Once you’ve found your dream career, strive to achieve it despite all the obstacles and difficulties. It's a good idea to have a mentor help you through the process by setting up game plans and milestones. If you have a person that holds you accountable and helps you face your emotions, you'll definitely get there sooner.
You should go after your dreams because you owe it to yourself to live the life that you deserve. Following goals gives your life direction, meaning, and purpose. If you settle for what others have prescribed for you, you'll end up regretting and wondering what things would have been like if you had pursued your goals.
Having a dream is important because it makes your life meaningful. When you follow your goals, you can grow because you have to learn new skills and overcome obstacles. You experience feelings of self-doubt, being inadequate, and unable to keep moving forward. But when you accomplish your goal, you'll be transformed, fulfilled, and proud.
There's no reason why you shouldn't follow your dreams. If you don't have a goal to follow, you'll never know what you're capable of doing. Only by getting out of your comfort zone and pushing boundaries will you be able to know your worth and lead the life that you truly deserve.
Suffering in silence won’t help you overcome your trauma and figure out how you can return to happiness and overcome whatever you’re going through.
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