Why You Should Follow Your Bliss
/Joseph Campbell was famous for saying, “follow your bliss” and I am in total agreement with him. Most of us grow up being highly influenced by our parents, our teachers our peer groups and our culture. This puts the power of external expectations over our lives. In order for us to fit in, we have a tendency to conform to the norms around us, even when they run counter to our natural interests and calling. As a result we struggle to make the grade, which places a whole lot of pressure and anxiety upon us. Ultimately over time this takes a toll upon our health, our happiness and our satisfaction with life.
Photography by Paul Garrett
It is difficult to excel when you do not LOVE what you do. This leads to dreading Mondays, burnout and the feeling of being trapped in a job just to pay the bills. Before we know it we are just going through the motions wishing that Friday would come along faster and faster. As a result we don’t fully enjoy every day of the week. This is such a shame because life is short and should never be wasted.
What Do You Value?
One of the things that I value most is freedom. Freedom to do the work that I love. Freedom to work with clients who inspire me. And freedom to choose when I work and when I take time off. By letting go of the expectations of other I’ve been able to design a life where I feel inspired each day to do my very best work. This not only makes me happy, but it also benefits my clients. As a result I’m excited for each and every day, I am super healthy and I am filled with creative energy most of the time. Getting to this point in my life did come with taking risks and having to ignore the criticism of others. This is a natural part of the journey. Others don't walk in our shoes, however. They can give us their opinions, but they don't have the right to run our lives. Ultimately we have to stand up for ourselves and do what we know deep within our hearts to be our major purpose on this planet.
“You can fail at what you don’t want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.”
If you are unhappy with what you are doing for a living, I urge you to make important changes in your life. Once again, life is short and you are here to fulfill your purpose. When we align with our life’s true calling, everything flows so much better and it is easier for us to manifest abundance, love and our dreams. It is this alignment, ease and subsequent joy that will make your calling blissful. Life should not be a daily grind that you dread. Instead it should be an exciting and fulfilling journey.
Consider the following questions to improve your life:
- Do I love my job?
- Is there another career that I have always dreamed of doing?
- What are my strengths and interests?
- What skills do I need to develop for my dream career?
- What is the legacy that I want to leave behind at the end of my life?
The quality of your questions determine the quality of your life. Be curious and pursue the paths that feel intuitively right for you.
Mount Rainier - Photography by Paul Garrett
Changing paths in life takes courage, but you owe it to yourself to follow your bliss and do what you love. To bridge the gap you may need to cut back on your expenses for a while and even change your social groups, but making short term sacrifices is a price worth paying in order to live your dreams in the long run. It’s also important to develop good financial habits and to save money for a rainy day fund. This will bring you peace of mind and following your bliss will bring you untold happiness and satisfaction. It’s time to live the life you love remembering once again that all things are possible when you believe and take action.
Wishing you a blissful weekend,
P.S. - We will be reviewing, "The Five Love Languages" by Gary Chapman at the end of September for our TSJ Bookclub. Pick up a copy and read along with us. In this #1 New York Times bestseller you will not only learn what your love language is, but also the love language of your partner. This knowledge will help you to have a more harmonious relationship and to feel more fulfilled.
Click here to read Jess Dale's inspiring story of how she journeyed from a "should job" at a law firm to living the life that she loves. Jess also has a popular gallery on Instagram that you can see at https://www.instagram.com/jess.wandering/
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