Motivation from the Inside Out

When I think about the times when I’ve felt most alive and energized at work, I was doing more of what I’m good at - less of the stuff I’d rather avoid. These are times I would characterize as high-points in my career, because I was enjoying myself. Having fun! In fact, I would also describe them as my most successful moments. Don’t get me wrong, not every aspect of my job was a treat; sometimes we just have to do things we’d rather avoid. But, I subscribe to the philosophy that everyone deserves the opportunity to do more of what they love; to feel joy and self-worth from the activities which monopolize so much of our focus, effort, and time.

In the same vein, our career has the potential to be a self-expression of who we are, a representation of what we value and stand for, and an extension of why we’re here. And, this is where most people - and employers - miss the mark. And, this is what our next four chapters are all about. Learning how to identify and tap into what gives us energy and motivates us from the inside out.

While this is the most exciting work – from my perspective – it can also be scary. At the end of these chapters our group will have a clear picture of what their good at, what’s most important in life and clear the brush around why they’re here and how this connects to our work. From this point of clearing – clarity arises.

For some, this will be a time of anticipation, curiosity and excitement as the picture comes into focus. Our members will start to understand how work can be an extension of who we are and connect to our purpose in life. I’ve seen this start to unfold already. One person in our group was feeling unfulfilled and disconnected from her work, but was awakened from her own voice. Now, she can clearly see how her job is creating a pathway to the vision of success she has for herself. A job that was once a drag on her psyche is now something she looks forward to and enjoys. We all deserve this.

For others, our next four chapters will stir moments of uncertainty. Like a well-intentioned sailboat – we’ll discover that we’ve tacked off-course and landed on the opposite shore in error. This is when we’ll honor the journey, collect the learnings, and look out at the horizon as we ask ourselves if we have the courage to follow our dreams as we lift the sails once more.

Claim Your Space

I’ve heard a slight variation on these words three times in the last week. I’m going to apologize in advance if this is an overused cliché. I’ve given up most TV these days, so I’ll have to claim ignorance if someone famous coined the term.

The first time the words were spoken it brought tears to my eyes. My husband and I had just watched a production at the Moore Theatre in Seattle. The show was called More Music @ the Moore, and it featured an array of extremely talented young people who showcased their talent with a group of Pike Place Market street musicians. (Did I say young people – how old am I?) I was moved and inspired throughout the evening as I watched these children display their passion and talent like no one was watching. But at the conclusion of the evening, it was the words of Daniel Bernard Roumain (the New York based composer, musician and conductor) which pushed me over the edge. He said with the conviction of a loving parent who might not see their child again, “…claim your space.”

That’s all he needed to say, but my translation was ….we are all worthy, bring your unique talents to this world, and create a stage for your passions. Claim your space.

The second time I heard the term I was at a HR (human resource) conference in Madison. The MC who opened for the keynote speaker at the launch of the conference talked about this time being full of possibilities and now was our time to claim what we're good at...claim your space. I couldn’t help but wonder if the universe was conspiring as I looked to the faces of others to see if it resonated with them, as well. Yup.

The third time I heard the words, it was from my own lips. I was talking to my daughter and her friend just days before their college graduation. My daughter’s friend was excitedly telling me about her upcoming trip across the pond to graduate school in London. As she explained, she hoped to finish up grad school, get a good job, and save up some money…. so she can do want she really wants to do – write.

I wanted to jump across the table and tell her how many have taken a similar path. Given up on our hopes and dreams on a temporary basis, only to find ourselves too entrenched in a career path or a way of life to move down another path. But alas, I didn’t want to sound like someone’s mom. After some gentle discussion on the important of following the clues our passions and talents provide us, I think I heard the words leave my mouth...“think about claiming your space now.”

We'll see....

The Convergence Zone

I was almost killed on a boat once, and I’m sure it’s a story I’ll tell well into old age. We were leaving the San Juan Islands and opted to take the outer passage to return to Seattle after a day of fishing. As we moved into the vast open water, the gray skies turned black and the water started to swell just enough to worry this non-swimmer. At first, the waves just rocked the 22 ft boat back and forth…back and forth. Then, we slowly came upon a convergence zone of open tumultuous water, hailing winds running through the pass, and foul weather that called the Puget Sound to open up like it was going to eat us. At one point, the waves were almost too big for the boat to climb, and that is when I knew I was going to die.

Well, okay – this is where the similarities might end. But, convergence zones can be challenging, exciting and create unexpected events. And, that is certainly how I would characterize all of the wonderful information I’ve surface about myself as I prepare my psyche for more success. I needed to figure out that one thing that might get in my way, and now… I know the culprit. I know the precautions to put into place as I move into this next phase of our work. It’s not huge and it won’t keep me out of big waters – but knowing allows me to be more prepared.

We didn’t put on our life vests until the water was pretty rough, so the Girl Scout mantra “be prepared” was obviously lost on me at the time. By the time I got around to it, putting the life vest on the dog was like dressing a spooked rabid animal. Not good. The last thing I remember was feeling the dishes and debris falling on us as my partner’s daughter cried in my arms, “I want my mommy!” We held each other until we collapsed in exhaustion, and when we awoke it was like we were in a Disney movie. The sun was shining, we could hear the birds as they followed the boat, and the water was as flat as a ride in Disneyland. And, we could see land!

I can remember the emotion of this experience with a vividness unlike any other. (okay, with the exception of the birth of my children) In fact, I can’t think about that day without recalling the magnitude of awe I felt at that moment. The heat of the sunshine on my face, the gratitude for good skippering, and the smiles – I swear, even the dog had a smirk on his face. It was a beautiful thing. And, that was how I felt after Monday’s session. We had just come out a convergence zone – of sorts - and we started to explore how our talents, skills and interests connect. (Another convergence zone, if you will.) Like the sunshine that day, sharing what we’ve come to value about each other was a moment I will cherish forever. Again, I was in awe of the magnificence unfolding.