Is Your Heart In What You Do?
By Satu Kreula
"I know I'm going there not really believing in what I do, but it's part of the job." This is what a client of mine said to me today, and it really struck me personally.
It took me back to when I had to do things I didn't believe in. Sometimes it was fear, and coming out of it I was okay, but other times, I just didn't believe in what I was doing (or what my organisation was asking me to do) and I hadn't spoken up about it. I guess part of me wasn't aware of what it was that I didn't believe in, so I wouldn't have even been able to articulate what the problem was. But even if I had been aware, would I have always spoken up. Not sure.
It also struck me as I realised how fortunate I am that my heart is in what I do. I rarely do things these days that don't feel right. And I've learned the distinction between fear and something not feeling right. Well, most of the time. And the idea of doing something that my heart is not in, or as the saying goes, doing things half-heartedly, makes me feel squirmish and uncomfortable.ÂÂ
But how do you figure out what your heart is in to?ÂÂ
I think this is a journey. And sometimes it can be a convoluted one. You think it might be in one thing - and then you get there, and you realise that it's only part of it, and something else is missing. But at least you have some pieces of the puzzle. I think that's how you have to look at it, a puzzle. What feels right to you right now? Keep that. Safeguard it. And then reflect what else would feel right? How could you explore it? And then go do that. I think that's what I've done. Six years ago I thought I'd landed the dream job. I had in many ways, but there were also many aspects that were very wrong for me, and it didn't feel right. So when it was time to leave, I knew which pieces to take with me, and which pieces I was going to leave behind - consciously never picking those up again.
So what feels right for you right now in what you already have experience in? Write it all down. What else feels right - whether you think it's possible for you to do it - or not. Don't let your fear guide you here. Listen to your heart. What is it saying? If everything was possible - what would be the right thing to explore further? What are all the ways you can do this?
"I know I'm going there not really believing in what I do, but it's part of the job." This is what a client of mine said to me today, and it really struck me personally.
It took me back to when I had to do things I didn't believe in. Sometimes it was fear, and coming out of it I was okay, but other times, I just didn't believe in what I was doing (or what my organisation was asking me to do) and I hadn't spoken up about it. I guess part of me wasn't aware of what it was that I didn't believe in, so I wouldn't have even been able to articulate what the problem was. But even if I had been aware, would I have always spoken up. Not sure.
It also struck me as I realised how fortunate I am that my heart is in what I do. I rarely do things these days that don't feel right. And I've learned the distinction between fear and something not feeling right. Well, most of the time. And the idea of doing something that my heart is not in, or as the saying goes, doing things half-heartedly, makes me feel squirmish and uncomfortable.ÂÂ
But how do you figure out what your heart is in to?ÂÂ
I think this is a journey. And sometimes it can be a convoluted one. You think it might be in one thing - and then you get there, and you realise that it's only part of it, and something else is missing. But at least you have some pieces of the puzzle. I think that's how you have to look at it, a puzzle. What feels right to you right now? Keep that. Safeguard it. And then reflect what else would feel right? How could you explore it? And then go do that. I think that's what I've done. Six years ago I thought I'd landed the dream job. I had in many ways, but there were also many aspects that were very wrong for me, and it didn't feel right. So when it was time to leave, I knew which pieces to take with me, and which pieces I was going to leave behind - consciously never picking those up again.
So what feels right for you right now in what you already have experience in? Write it all down. What else feels right - whether you think it's possible for you to do it - or not. Don't let your fear guide you here. Listen to your heart. What is it saying? If everything was possible - what would be the right thing to explore further? What are all the ways you can do this?
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By Hiren on 21 March 2008 at 10:28