OT:Defining Your Direction

Your Life’s Work

Many people are committed to professions and personal endeavors they never consciously planned to pursue. They attribute the shape of their lives to cir****tance, taking on roles they feel are tolerable. Each of us, however, has been blessed with a purpose. Your life’s work is the assemblage of activities that allows you to express your intelligence and creativity, live in accordance with your values, and experience the profound joy of simply being yourself. Unlike traditional work, which may demand more of you than you are willing to give, life’s work demands nothing but your intent and passion for that work. Yet no one is born with an understanding of the scope of their purpose. If you have drifted through life, you may feel directionless. Striving to discover your life’s work can help you realize your true potential and live a more authentic, driven life.

To make this discovery, you must consider your interests in the present and the passions that moved you in the past. You may have felt attracted to a certain discipline or profession throughout your young life only to have steered away from your aspirations upon reaching adulthood. Or you may be harboring an interest as of yet unexplored. Consider what calls to you and then narrow it down. If you want to work with your hands, ask yourself what work will allow you to do so. You may be able to refine your life’s work within the context of your current occupations. If you want to change the world, consider whether your skills and talents lend themselves to philanthropic work. Taking stock of your strengths, passions, beliefs, and values can help you refine your search for purpose if you don’t know where to begin. Additionally, in your daily meditation, ask the universe to clarify your life’s work by providing signs and be sure to pay attention.

Since life’s journey is one of evolution, you may need to redefine your direction on multiple occasions throughout your lifetime. For instance, being an amazing parent can be your life’s work strongly for 18 years, then perhaps you have different work to do. Your life’s work may not be something you are recognized or financially compensated for, such as parenting, a beloved hobby, or a variety of other activities typically deemed inconsequential. Your love for a pursuit, however, gives it meaning. You’ll know you have discovered your life’s work when you wake eager to face each day and you feel good about not only what you do but also who you are.

Because I have had to change professions late in life, I can say that we do evolve.  I also think a lot of us, women in particular, don't pursue our passions because of children and waiting on them to grow up or, like many of us wls patients, we just don't have the energy or the guts to do what we really want to do before wls.  I know after wls, my pursuit of my PhD has become so much more easier physically.  I can get to the library, bend over in the stacks or climb up on ladders, I can make it all over campus to do whatever I need to do,, I can attend any and all of the out of class functions.  The list goes on.  So, our pursuits are made easier by our own personal evolution from being a parent who has seen her birdies fly away to having wls to get the excess baggage off to having more funds to do what we want.  Old age or middle age isn't just about sitting in the rocking chair.

I have a little dream that has been nagging at me for a while but that I keep pushing back and saying, "oh, you can't do that! you're too old and not blah and can't blah..." I will keep thinking about it and maybe one day, I will figure out a way to start that path or figure out it's just not a realistic one for me.

Thanks for this post.
Cheryl

Aloha my complicated but oh so interesting ceeidee.....It does not surprise me that you have a secret dream. What does surprise me is that you shared it here. You have always intrigued me as a very special woman with crazy roadblock emotions that keep many of us from realizing our dreams.

I for one am on your side.......whatever that dream may be....go for it!!
I didn't start college until I was 29. married with two children. Long story short.......10 years later.....doctor of clinical psychology. Did I think I was going there....NO WAY! I was taking a few classes in psych because I had a child with "problems." My first psych professor said to me "what are you going to be doing for the next ten years?" I said "raising children." He said "So why not take a few classes." The rest is history.

Cheryl....do what moves you. It is YOUR life....and you don't get any "do overs".

Let us know where your dreams lead you!

Aloha nui loa,

Maui Karen

Hi Karen,

I have been pondering your post all day. I have to say I sure don't feel interesting.

I too returned to college after I was married and had my son. I got a teaching degree but ended up social working. I think it's what I am suppose to be doing but do have something else I'd love to do. Just have to figure out if I can and what my true intentions are in doing it. My husband thinks it would be great and I'd love to say what it is but I am pretty self conscious about it (self absorbed more likely). Not trying to be mysterious or game playing, I just truly feel funny about saying much about it. Now I feel really funny....

Any who...thanks for your post...I think I am finally figuring out that we really don't get any "do overs." Well, except husbands, and I have had all I am ever going to be doing over in that department!!!!!

Take Care,
Cheryl

Aloha ceeidee.....I'm chuckling here...especially about the "do overs" regarding husbands!

I do not have a clue as to what your dream is...but I do believe that if it's important to you, it is IMPORTANT!! I was very lucky in that my husband jumped on the bandwagon when I expressed an interest in going to college when I was 29. However, he was an airline pilot and was used to me being there when he got home from flights that took him away for two or three days, and being his biggest cheerleader...asking him all about his adventures, etc. Well..when I started college and had my own news to share with him....it wasn't the same. Long story short...he found another "cheerleader" and I continued to grow through education and interaction with fascinating friends, etc.

Listen to your heart......do what you want/need to do for your life's fulfillment. You never know what is ahead of you.....and now being physically fit and not burdened by heaviness of body, you can do anything you want to do.

Good luck to you, my friend.......the future is all yours!

Aloha nui loa,

Maui Karen