Understand what you are doing is not the job. Why You Can't Do What You Don't Love

People who receive a small salary dream of a bigger salary. They think that all their problems will be solved if they earn more money. It's an illusion, I know from experience. If you are in this situation now, get through it as quickly as possible to move on. Making money is not a unique problem; billions of people on earth solve it somehow.

People who earn a lot, but do not do their job, suffer from the meaninglessness of life. Untapped potential hurts. They dream of financial freedom, that is, to have a source of passive income so that they no longer have to work. Many achieve this, there is nothing unique in this either - to buy an apartment to rent it out, your small business, interest on the deposit. But that doesn't solve anything.

Financial freedom from what? No more work? Well don't work. Travel around the world? Well, travel. Financial freedom is an illusion. It does not give you the main thing - your self-realization, the disclosure of your potential.

And those who now want to earn more and those who dream of financial freedom so that they no longer work fall into the same trap. Measure value in money. Measure work in money. Work for money. Work for money so you don't have to work later.

And how else, we live in a materialistic world? All for money, without them nowhere, is it any different?

Yes, it's different. Recently I was at the Burning Man festival. Thousands of people from all over the world come to the desert of Nevada to create an artificial city there for a week - Black Rock City, an alternative society. The world outside this city is called the Default World, that is, the world by default.

What is the difference between this society and the rest of the world? A lot of them. One of them is the gift economy. Money has no circulation in the city, nothing can be bought with it. Nothing is for sale. Everything is donated. Yes. All. Absolutely free. Food, drink, clothing, hairdressing, massages, entertainment... Everything you can think of, everything that you used to buy in the city for money - they give you. Not demanding anything in return, just like that. Because if you give people something, someone will give you what you need.

To live a few days in such a society is a great happiness. I understood many things very clearly. Money is a perverted measure of the value of what you do. Because society itself is perverted. Imagine that what you do, your work, is no longer measured by money at all. You work for free and give the result of your work to people, and everything that you yourself need for life - other people give you. Jobs are no longer divided into prestigious and non-prestigious, high-paid and low-paid. You can do what you like best.

Would you continue to do what you are doing now?

If you are doing something for free, of your own free will, what is the point of doing it poorly without putting your soul into it? Who do you want to fool? :)

But if labor is no longer measured by money, how is it measured? The value you give to people. Each person has abilities and talents that others do not have or are not so developed in other people. You give maximum value when you discover these talents and share them with others.

The question that you should ask yourself is to what extent what I am doing now (no matter how much money it brings) most fully reveals and expresses my potential, my abilities?

How to understand that you do not reveal your potential and are not doing your job? It's very simple. You are lazy, uninteresting, sad, you have little energy, poor health, you often get sick, you feel emptiness and meaninglessness of life, you have depression, apathy, you are afraid of old age and death, you worry too much about money ... How strange it didn't sound, these are all good symptoms. Life itself gives you a hint, hints to you that this is not what you should be doing. How else are you supposed to feel if you're not doing what you're here for? A brilliant artist can become a mediocre car mechanic, and a brilliant car mechanic can become a mediocre doctor. And both of them will be unhappy.

How long does it take to figure out how to find your purpose.

  • I understood in my childhood what my vocation was;
  • I continue the family tradition and follow in the footsteps of my parents, continue their work;
  • I am still in search of my destiny;
  • found and now doing what I love;
  • purpose? No, I didn't.

Take part in the survey (at the end of the article on the right)

Everyone chooses his own path. Some prefer not to choose at all, but simply go with the flow. However, this is also a choice.

Looking around, I notice how many people are unhappy.

People who endure their work all week long in anticipation of the weekend and in the hope of a vacation.

People who come home completely exhausted, who no longer have the strength or desire to communicate with their families.

People who are inherently good, but tired of their lives, and because of this, irritated and embittered by the whole world. In their free time, they try to relax and gain strength while sitting in front of the TV or at the computer. And all in order to then go to an unloved job. What for? To feed a family that you hardly see.

Think back to your childhood. You must have dreamed of becoming someone! Then everything was clear.

“I don’t want to be a machinist, I won’t.”

We would not understand in childhood why do something that does not bring pleasure.

Children know exactly what they want.

What do adults want?

For all your adult affairs, you forget to think about what you really want. But the meaning of life is to find your purpose.

How to understand that you are doing your own thing:

- enjoy your work

You can do your job anytime, anywhere. You quickly plunge into the process of work that captivates you for a long time.

- strength is added, and not vice versa

With each new task, strength is only added. Your work gives a lot of energy! You are ready to overcome any obstacles in order to achieve results in your field.

- need to develop

You are engaged in your professional growth, experiencing a constant need to gain new knowledge in this area. You are on the path to perfecting your skills.

Benefit those around you

Doing what you love, you are ready to talk about it at any time and share your experience with others. You feel that your work not only brings joy to you, but also benefits others. And you are ready to give even more. Your head is occupied by the thoughts “How to do better for people?”

- work not for profit

Money is not decisive in choosing your business. When you immerse yourself in your favorite business, give yourself completely to work, you can easily part with money for training and improving your skill. Over time, having achieved certain results in your field, your favorite business brings income.

To make a big profit, you need to please a lot of people.

- you shape your own life

Gradually, you begin to notice that the number of ideas is only growing every day. I want to create. You feel like you are in the right place. You notice that around you there are people who share your goals.

A successful person strives to realize himself to the maximum and help others. Doing what you love, you are 100% fulfilling your potential.

A happy person knows how to take and give.

Do you want to be happy:

- engage in your personal growth every day;

- help others.

Deepak Chopra singled out 3 questions that will help you understand how to find your purpose:

1. What are your unique talents?

An immortal soul needs an immortal work just like itself. And this is the case, the endless improvement of oneself and the world - and given to her.
Lev Tolstoy

All people tend to experience a state of uncertainty, throwing from side to side in search of themselves. If you are not completely sure that you are doing your business, there is a great opportunity to check it out right now. Well-known American business consultant Peter Cohan has suggested 7 main signs for this to help you deal with this problem.

7 signs of your calling

To do this, correlate your answers with these postulates, and you will understand how your work suits you.

  1. You can do your job at any time, under any circumstances, and in any state of health. Dale Carnegie once said that "People rarely succeed if they are busy doing things that do not give them pleasure."
  2. You are immersed in the process of work immediately and for a long time. Focusing on what you love is like deep meditation. Time and everything that happens around cease to matter.
  3. You feel a constant need for professional growth and acquiring new knowledge. You participate in discussions related to your favorite thing.
  4. You enjoy sharing your experience with other people. Your knowledge comes to you easily, so you are just as easily ready to share it. You are not disturbed by the thought that someone will become better than you, using your knowledge.
  5. You are open to new things. Favorite business gives a big boost of energy that you want and are ready to spend on exciting things. You are open to new acquaintances, travel and ideas.
  6. Money is not the deciding factor for you. If you are completely immersed in your business, then it is easy to spend a significant part of your money on it. And after a while, your favorite business brings you income with the same ease.
  7. Desired events are increasingly starting to happen in your life. And all you have to do is watch the good fortune. New acquaintances, creative ideas seem to come into your life by themselves. This technique is a universal determinant that gives an answer to the question - “Am I doing my own business?” Every time you have doubts, check yourself on all 7 points, and you can change your activities for the better!

Write in the comments, what do you think, are you doing your life's work? And how did you define it?

The Sultan finished state affairs for the day. Released foreign ambassadors. Decided to take care of the family. He calls the eunuch and orders: - Bring me my first wife. Performed. A little later - the second. Third, fourth... twentieth... twenty-fourth. They sent him for the twenty-fifth. And he, the poor fellow, is already all tired, barely breathing. And he says to the Sultan:

Oh my lord! Explain how it is, I bring your wives to you, I'm already exhausted, and you are like a cucumber?

And the Sultan answers him: - It's not your favorite work that tires you, but aimless wandering along the corridors.

I believe that we all came into this world for a reason and that we all have some meaning in it. I sincerely believe that we are all gifted with inimitable and unique talents. The realization of our talents is much more important than we ourselves realize.

First I'll tell my story

Last year, I was knocked off my feet by the sheer amount of things to do because I was chasing my dream of money and “success.” I don't even remember why I need it. Luckily, I met Jim (name changed). Jim achieved the financial success that I was so eager for. He was financially independent, he successfully ran several projects, he had real estate in many countries, he could afford all the luxuries that money can buy.

He was able to achieve all this thanks to hard work, constancy and responsibility! But Jim was not happy. He did not have free time to enjoy his wealth. He wanted to have a family. He wanted peace. He wanted to live his life...but he couldn't afford it. He had too many responsibilities, and if he didn't, he would lose a lot. He had a lot to protect. Jim has spent years building his castle, and now that the building is complete, he spends all of his time making sure the castle doesn't collapse from outside influences.

Getting to know Jim opened my eyes to my life and made me change it. His words brought me to my senses. It suddenly became clear to me that “I don’t want to spend the next 10 years of my life chasing money, in order to later find my emotional, mental and spiritual development at the same level at which it was at the beginning of the chase.” The brakes screeched, my pursuit stalled and then was put aside. I spent the next two months reassessing my life goals.

The following questions came to my mind: What am I chasing? Why am I doing this? What is my true purpose? What am I here for?

While reading E-Myth: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work by Michael Gerber, I found myself crying. In that chapter, the author asked readers to do visualization exercises. By following his instructions, you visualize the day of your funeral clearly in your mind. What kind of eulogy would you like? What will be your lifetime achievements? What will matter most to you at the end of your life? Is this what you are doing now?

I began to write. I started making a list of what really matters to me. I wrote down everything I wanted to do. I rethought my priorities. For myself, I decided that all the steps I take should lead to the achievement of a goal that corresponds to my personal values ​​​​and is what I really want from life. With each new opportunity that comes up, I have to determine whether that opportunity is right for my ultimate goal. No matter how much money a new opportunity brings me, if it goes against my life goals, I won't take it. I formulated my goal as follows:

To inspire, motivate and motivate people to live happier and more meaningful lives.

Here are some of the most important tasks for me:

  • For me, it is of great importance to agree with oneself, self-realization and a feeling of happiness;
  • The greatest value for me is serious relationships with people, the ability to build real relationships at a deep level;
  • I will be financially independent and in control of my time and location. I want to work only on those projects and implement only those ideas that I like. My financial situation will not conflict with my values ​​and life goals;
  • I will travel and live in different parts of the world. Having become acquainted with all kinds of cultures, I will document them in photographs and share my impressions with others;
  • I will buy my mother in Vancouver a house with a swimming pool in the yard. This is her dream and I want to make it come true;
  • Family is important to me. I want my husband and I to have a strong and loving relationship.
  • I try to live every day as fully as if it were my last day.

15 questions to help you understand your life goals.

A list of these questions can help you recognize your life goals. They are designed to help you mentally formulate the tasks that you must complete during your life.

Easy instructions:

  • Take some sheets of writing paper;
  • Find a place where no one will disturb you. Turn off your mobile phone;
  • Write down the answers to all questions. Write down the first thing that comes to mind. Write without editing. Answer all questions. It is more important to write down all the answers, and not just think about them;
  • Write fast. Give yourself no more than 60 seconds for each question. And it's better if it takes you less than 30 seconds;
  • Be honest. Nobody will read this. It is very important to write without editing;
  • Enjoy what you are doing and smile at the same time.

15 questions:

  1. What makes you smile? (Occupation, people, events, hobbies, projects, etc.)
  2. What did you enjoy doing in the past? What do you like to do now?
  3. What kind of work can you lose track of time doing?
  4. What makes you proud of yourself?
  5. Who is your biggest inspiration? (Someone you know or don't know personally. Your family members, friends, writers, artists, politicians, etc.). What qualities of each of your inspirations exemplify you?
  6. What are you especially good at? (Your skills, abilities and talents).
  7. What kind of help do people usually turn to you for?
  8. If you had to teach someone something, what would you teach?
  9. What would you regret in your life? (Imperfect actions, absence of something).
  10. Imagine that you are already 90 years old. You sit in a rocking chair on the porch of your house and bask in the gentle rays of spring. You are happy and relaxed, you are satisfied with the wonderful life that has been given to you. You remember your whole life, think about what you achieved during this life and what you had. You iterate over all relationships in memory. What matters the most to you? Make a list.
  11. What are your true values? Choose 3-6 words in descending order of importance.
  12. What are your highest values?
    Achievements Friendship Quality of work
    Adventures Helpfulness Personal growth
    the beauty Health The game
    To be the best Honesty Productivity
    Challenge Independence Initiative
    Convenience inner peace Relations
    Courage Directness Reliability
    Creation Intelligence Respect
    Curiosity Close relations Safety
    Education Fun Spirituality
    Confidence Leadership Success
    Environment Studies Freedom in time
    A family Love Diversity
    Financial independence Interest
    Healthy lifestyle Passion
    Other values ​​not listed
  13. What difficulties, difficulties and hardships have you had to overcome or what do you have to overcome at the moment? How do you do it?
  14. What ideas do you truly believe in? What attracts you to them?
  15. If you had to perform in front of a lot of people, what would your performance be about? Who would these people be?
  16. You have talents, preferences, and values. How could you use what is given to you to serve, help, and make a personal contribution? (People, living beings, ideas, organizations, environment, world, etc.).

Your purpose in this world

“You change when you write down your goals and revise them, because for this you have to carefully, deeply reflect on what is really important to you and adjust your behavior to your beliefs”- Stephen Covey "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" (7 Habits of Highly Effective People)

You can understand your purpose by answering 3 questions:

  • What do I want to do?
  • Who do I want to help?
  • What will be the result? What will I create?

Steps to define your purpose:

  1. Quickly answer the 15 questions above.
  2. List the words that describe you. For example: education, achievement of excellence, trust, inspiration, improvement, help, giving, guidance, inspiration, possession, motivation, education, organization, promotion, travel, growth, participation, satisfaction, understanding, teaching, creativity, etc..
  3. Based on your 15 responses, list everything and everyone who and what you can help. For example: people, living beings, organizations, ideas, groups, environment, etc.
  4. Define your end goal. What benefit will those who got in the answer to the question above benefit from what you do?
  5. State steps 2-4 in one or 2-3 sentences.

What is your goal? What is your purpose? What are your aspirations? Share your thoughts in the comments to the article.