So how's work going?
This is usually a question I hear when catching up with someone and the answer goes one in two ways. It's going well or there's a long list of reasons why it isn't going well. I think some us can agree that it is usually the latter. But then I had to challenge myself the other day and think, 'Am I just complaining?'
Some of us are fortunate enough to be in a job where we are doing something we enjoy. It may come with a work load and tasks that we do not enjoy, but hey, it's a job that we enjoy and we're getting paid for it. However, if I stop and moan about everything that is getting on my nerves, it will impact how I perceive my job.
On the flip side, sadly many of us are in a job we do not enjoy and it is just a means to an end. It is either part of our journey to something better or something we see only as a way to survive. Whilst looking for ways out of these jobs, we make the journey more tiring by complaining about the job we are currently in. We perceive the job as more of a burden than a blessing to get us to where we need to be. We don't have to love our job, but we should love our life, so the perspective we have of our jobs is very important because if you're like me, you're spending on average 12 hours a day on or at work and that's a huge portion of your life.
In order for us to have the right perspective, we have to make sure that:
1) We are thankful for the job that we have.
Now I know that this might sound crazy if you are in a job that you hate, but think, as a result of having this job you have a way of life. It might not be the way of life that you want at the moment, but would you rather have nothing? When I was at uni I had a customer assistant job (a posh way of saying that I worked at a till) and although for me it wasn't the job that I wanted to be in, I am thankful for that job. I was not only able to earn money whilst studying but I worked quiet shifts so I could study and work! Be thankful for you job.
2) Enjoy life outside of work.
In the last post, we looked at living a balanced. What's that saying? 'All work no play...'. We have to make sure that we live life balanced. What are you doing outside of work to enjoy life?
3) Plan your future.
If you are in a job you hate, what are you doing about it? It is not always as easy as starting a new course straight way because money doesn't grow on trees but put plans in place and commit to them. Your job will then be part of your journey and not your destination - you will appreciate it as being part of the process that gets you to where you want to be. Create a vision board or record your goals and how you will get there. All things are possible!
Do you hate your job or do you love complaining? Love the life that you live.
It didn't take long for the panic to set in. It's 2018, I'm 29 and what have I done with my life? At different stages of our lives, this question pops up to haunt us, over-shadowing any successes we have achieved! It is ridiculously easy to feel as if life is going nowhere or that you are stuck doing the same thing over and over again. Isn't that the definition of insanity?
Our characters and personalities are multifaceted. In different situations, we are different people, yet are still the same person. How do we be who we are when our job roles only allow us to live out one side of ourselves. For me, I found myself committed to teaching 24/7, which wasn't bad, but I felt limited. Other passions that I had were dying. There are many more sides to me, but it is not always possible for me to live that out in all situations - it's just not possible. So what do we do?
I realise that it is important to live a life outside of work. In 2018, let's make sure that we have a life! Pick up a new hobby. Sign up to a new course. Go for regular walks. Do life differently and take risks. Live a life you want to enjoy.
For me it looks like writing regularly, exercising regularly and doing different social activities. What will your life look like this year?
It's 2018! Yay! And as January is the first month of the year, it represents new beginnings, new seasons, new adventures. People have been spending time setting goals, building vision boards and creating targets for the year! It's an exciting time as everybody ushers in the new year with a sense of anticipation and adventure.
But it isn't long before we face our first challenges of the year. For some of us we have signed up to the gym but the bitter chill has kept us prisoners to our settees. For others of us, we have started a new diet but that cookie dough ice cream begged for just one taste. For me, it was simple things like not procrastinating and staying organised. Actually, I haven't even set my goals properly to be honest. I faced my first obstacle two days before new years and came down with the flu! The obstacles that we face can cause us to put things off until the next year, as we say 2019 will be better. I joke, some of us are not so extreme, at least not in January.
But I know I found myself today feeling frustrated with myself because I was not only disorganised, I was the epitome of disorganisation. So much for my poorly constructed new years resolution! But then I had to pull myself up! The year isn't over! My life isn't over. There are 357 days left of the year and how ever many days left in my life. All those days!
I then challenged myself to not only look at my year as a new opportunity but my day as a new opportunity. I would even go as far as to say a new hour is a new opportunity. We look at each year as a new opportunity to make improvements to our personal growth, why not each day? Or even each hour?
Eight days into the year, and we have had so many great opportunities presented to us already. We have 357 new opportunities and more to experience. What will you do with yours?
