What do you aspire to?
I have just returned from visiting family in America and was surprised by a few things.
· I slept better than I have for years.
· I was moved by large sweeping open spaces.
· Everyone needs to feel like a rock star.
Before I boarded the plane I was feeling pleased with how I have managed the restrictions imposed during the various lockdowns in Melbourne in 20 and 21. I was seeing the work I had done to remain healthy, support my son and keep my business going.
I wonder what you have been focused on achieving since March 2020?
In Melbourne I live a very suburban life. I work and exercise in my local area. My son goes to school in the local area.
When I visit my family in America they primarily live in small town America. Towns with less than five thousand people. A good portion of the family make a living through farming*. Most have done little or no international travel. Their work requires their physical presence outdoors connected to other people and or animals. I love it. It is an opportunity to get out of my comfort zone. To hear different perspectives, see different images, feel and smell things I don’t at home.
You can’t see what you aren’t looking for. Yet I found better sleep, was in awe of open spaces and felt like a rockstar.
All humans aspire to something.
Are you the good boy or girl, do you want to be successful or happy? Over our lifetime we observe what works and leads to the thing we aspire to. What start out as observations and good ideas become rigid fact. So rigid that we no longer see opportunities or are willing to take action outside of these rules. Your Work with Meaning may well lie outside of these rules that have served you well, albeit not so well now. Reconnecting with and understanding your rules can allow you to change your rules to better support the life you want to create for yourself.
My parents display our family shields with mottos like ‘nothing without labour’ in their house. I have seen that message thousands of times over decades. I have also heard my ideas dismissed as get rich quick scams or been rewarded for my hard work in researching and planning before taking action. Notice a theme? My first job after university had a culture of working 8am-7pm. ‘Nothing without labour.’
I wonder what messages you have been exposed to that shape your aspirations and strategies to achieve them. What advice would you share when asked what makes you successful? What advice can you hear a favourite teacher share about what it takes to be successful? What message did your first boss drum home to ensure you succeeded?
Hard work sure has helped me collect all sorts of trophies along the way. It has also fueled many boom and bust cycles. There are only so many hours in a day and wisdom in contributing to your well-being and family each day if you want them to remain a part of your everyday.
So if your work is lacking meaning I wonder what you are aspiring to and what rule you are blindly following to achieve it? Before making a change reflect on what is really important to you and how you achieve it.
I’m getting curtains in my bedroom, going hiking in November and creating more opportunities to spend time with family and friends in the same space. I didn’t realise I needed to sleep better, get out in the open and feel like a rockstar but I am going to have more of that.
*If you are curious about farming in small town America check out my podcast with Jacob Klindworth
