Why does everyone say you have to love what you do to be successful? Do I have to love it like my wife, like my drums, like I love racquetball? Do I have to love my job as much as I love spaghetti? And what if I don’t—does that mean I should quit my job and stop working until I find something I love?
Prior to 2010, before I sold my business, if you had asked me if I loved what I do I would probably have said “not really.” If you asked me that today you would get an enthusiastic YES…well, most days. I do love what I do…at long last. It took me forever to finally arrive here because I had to once and for all, conquer the beast of egotism, abandon my quest for personal security, and embrace my secret, deep inner desire to give it all away; my work, my art, the entire expression of who I am; to pay it forward and return it to the source from which it came.
There’s an old myth that says, “Children born in the circus have sawdust in their veins.” It means that they were born to be circus performers, and that their life was pre-planned for them. Erstwhile circus people so honored their profession, they were so devoted to the circus, that it was not only customary that their children become part of the traveling troupe, it was expected. And while most circus people never got rich or famous entertaining audiences from town to town, they loved it anyway. Because this was their destiny (making people happy), this is what they were born to do, this was their dharma or vocation in life! I’ve never heard of anyone running away FROM the circus to join the work’n class—except in the movie Water For Elephants…then again he was a doctor
Are you living your impossible dream? Are you doing what you were you born to do? If not, what is it that continues to stop you? Is it money? If you only had enough money you wouldn’t have to work, and then you could finally pursue your true purpose? Is that it, or some version of it?
It took me awhile to get this, but here’s what I think: Once you’ve gone through the process of discovery and found your true vocation, which isn’t always easy (years for most, minutes for some), but after you finally have that grand divine epiphany and accept once and for all who you are and what it is you’re here to do; you then, run up to the mountain top and plant the flag that represents your impossible dream. Then you make a clear unwavering commitment to the entire universe that you are grateful for the gifts you’ve been given and that you are now “committed” to sharing those gifts (your dream) with the rest of the world…no matter what! Once you do that, once you finally commit to accepting your own fate, conquering your own ego, and coming to grips with why you are here; the pursuit of money and fame become secondary to the quest for personal excellence—and when you’re pursuing excellence, and sharing your gift with the rest of us, then abundance and acknowledgment come banging at your door and bowing at your feet—in all of their may forms.
Have you experienced the grand divine epiphany? Are you living your dharma—your life’s purpose—your impossible dream? Is your first priority to fulfill that deep inner desire to share it—the gift you’ve been given? Or are you still struggling with ego and entitlement—plotting, planning and strategizing how you can get just a little more for yourself? Don’t be offended, I used to be that way too…not really. But I know plenty of folks who still think that the game called “More For Me” is real.