Common 'wisdom'

When examining the Purpose and Structure of your Life's Work, very often there is a common 'wisdom' that inhibits this full examination. Rationality and what we are 'supposed to' be doing with our lives tends to run much of the dialogue in our Minds. What we were taught at a very early age by our parents and family has been reinforced over the years to become a defined 'track' for each of our lives - one that is often challenging to notice or even contemplate 'getting off of'. Why should we go against 'common wisdom' when so many people have been successful before me? Why should I know any better than those that have come before me or even think that I might be able to do something different? Who am I to think that I even deserve to being doing something of meaning when there are so many people just barely 'getting by' or existing?

I would ask you to consider a few questions:

- How many people are really happy and successful and doing what they really want to do in their Life's Work? Whether it be at your current job, among a group of friends or just out at a restaurant - look around and ask yourself what % of those people are spending more than 50% of their active work time engaged in activities and work that they would personally consider meaningful and productive (to them)? Think about it... what % of them is really doing their Life Work on a consistent basis? 7 out of 10, 50%, 1 out of 5, 1 in 10...?

- Of those jobs/careers that have been defined by common 'wisdom' as being 'good' and 'successful' jobs, how many of these are ones that you would want to engage in? If you could change your job overnight would you choose one of these jobs? Would the quality of life be what you wanted or the money or the growth? If you were to evaluate these jobs with regard the the following 9 Factors of Career choice, how would they stack up?

9 Factors of Career Choice
1) Company Vision
2) Work Life Balance (includes Commute)
3) Career Growth/Opportunities
4) Training and Development
5) 'Make a Difference'
6) Manager/Supervisor
7) Executive Leadership
8) Community/Social
9) Compensation & Benefits

- Do you know yourself enough to really know what it is that you want to do with your life? What is your Life's Work and how would you define that? Are you moving towards a better understanding of that or going the other direction (or stopped)? Do you know what it feels like to make a difference in the world or someone else's life other than your own? Do you ever think about this and what comes up in your Mind?

Lots of questions for today but I will suggest that when you really think about it, common 'wisdom' is something to be questioned. Just for today, chose your own Wisdom over the crowd and see where it takes you!

All the Best,
Whitney
© 2010 All rights reserved, Whitney Merrill

“It is easier to sail many thousand miles through cold and storm and cannibals, in a government ship, with five hundred men and boys to assist one, than it is to explore the private sea, the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean of one's being alone. It is not worth the while to go round the world to count the cats in Zanzibar.”

– Henry David Thoreau