We’ve all heard the quote “find a job that you love and you’ll never work a day in your life”. It’s repeated to us when we’re growing up. It tends to be “sage advice” from those people in our lives that love us and support us. It’s supposed to be words of wisdom and inspiration that will guide us to what’s best for us.
Yet, in my personal experience, no matter how much I loved my job, it often still felt like work. And, to make the reality of this even more difficult for me to embrace, I was often broke and struggling at the same time.
No matter how much I loved my job I struggled to love my life.
It took me a long time to realize that it wasn’t enough to just love my job. If my thoughts around my personal value and worth were also not aligned with what I was doing, I’d continue to be broke and I’d continue to quote this “sage advice” as the justification for staying stuck.
Even though my passions and interests were being supported by the jobs I chose, and even though I was making a living, I knew that there had to be a solution so I could have a job I loved AND a life I loved too.
I had to figure out what was missing from the equation.
I knew that I wouldn’t be able to figure it out on my own. Why? Because the people in my immediate circles were also struggling and living the life of compartmentalized existence like me!
I knew I needed to find a mentor or a community that I could learn from and be supported by. I needed someone to teach me what I didn’t know. I didn’t know how to turn my life around and I needed someone who was willing to help me.
Turns out that I was lucky enough to have found two mentors who literally helped me change my view of the world. They taught me how to be present and conquer the negative thoughts I was having; comparing myself constantly, regularly complaining and the whole “faking it till you make it” philosophy I was following.
Once I learned how to be authentic and intentional, the whole world opened up for me.
I was in the same job I had previously loved, but somehow, why I loved it, now overflowed into my personal life and affected everything around me. I began to love my life and I began to understand that how I did anything was how I did everything. If I put in just enough effort to get my tasks done, I would put in just enough effort to keep my kids happy or put in just enough effort into my relationships to avoid conflict, etc. It was exhausting.
I realized, that if I put in my best efforts all the time instead of what I simply had to do, my relationships bloomed exponentially, I wasn’t as tired or sickly on my days off and, I began to attract more abundant and healthy situations into my life.
Here are 3 Of the Biggest Lessons My Mentors Taught Me About Living a Life That I Love:
1.Learn How To Receive Love
Don’t be a martyr. When someone offers you help; say thank you. There’s more to life than struggling and there’s no rule that says you have to do everything yourself or some how you’re a failure. Accept compliments. Let yourself be loved in tiny ways.
2.Let Laughter Be A Priority
We’re not always comfortable prioritizing the activities that truly bring us joy. Yet, we don’t have a problem prioritizing work, school, the gym etc. Give yourself permission to see the light side in life and embrace it. After all, laughter is the best medicine, so” they” say!
3.Learn How To Leave Your Past Behind
Let go of the mistakes you’ve made. Let go of the disappointments, the anger, the judgments. If you want to enjoy life moving forward – you have to face forward. Don’t look back. Give yourself permission to move on, to do things differently and, most of all, give yourself forgiveness for the things that have been weighing you down.
These three lessons aren’t rocket science. Even though they are simple lessons to follow, their impact is anything but simple. When you incorporate them into your daily rituals, you’ll discover quickly that your life is more joyful and meaningful. You’ll see yourself differently and you’ll be authentically happy in every single way.