If you were tasked with redesigning your life, and you had nothing to lose, what would you change?
It wasn’t until about a week ago that I started thinking like this.
Until then, the whole process of reconsidering what it is we’re doing was based upon the assumption that financial growth was a prerequisite, and that in turn meant expanding the company in some way.
But then, we dared to question that assumption. What if financial growth wasn’t a necessity? What if we forgot all about money, and instead looked into our hearts and asked ourselves, what do we really want to do?
It took a couple of days for that idea to sink in, but when it did, well, it changed the process completely. The walls that had previously defined the limits of our options vanished. We were free to dream our biggest dreams.
Whilst liberating, it’s also led to a place where we are faced with our greatest fears. Fears that are linked not with the fortunes of a superficial company, but rather, with our core sense of identity.
It’s like stripping away the layers of protective clothing and getting completely naked. Showing who we really are.
This last week I’ve started sharing my blurry ideas for a new way forward with a limited number of close friends and family. I see that this is my attempt to get reassurance that I am not totally wrapped up in some ga-ga land of my own creation, but that others recognise the potential that I see. I shouldn’t need this reassurance – i should trust in my own gut feeling that this is the right thing to do (it’s a strong feeling I have had for years, decades even).
Indeed, the first line of the response from one of my closest friends was “I’m surprised you still need to ask others …And I think if that’s what you feel is what you need to do, then you do it.”
Right.
I would add that I have been pretty bowled over by the sheer kindness, consideration, and votes of confidence shown by those I have spoken to. I am immensely grateful for that.
Much of this weekend will be spent examining how my core passion can be translated into real-life actions, and how it can be made to be sustainable.
Excited.
It sounds like you have some wonderful ideas going on. My husband and I have been reading $100 Startup and 4 Hour Workweek along with the Zen Habits blog. It’s interesting to see how much the societal norms and expectations are being challenge. I think it’s great to start thinking outside the box! We’re just starting in our attempts to escape that trapped minset and instead focus on our passions. 🙂
I think the biggest part of the challenge is following through, being committed to bringing about the desired change. I’m setting aside time each day to push this change through, regardless of how much work I have on from my current commitments.
One thing I’ll be doing today is having a meeting to explore how my Britishness might play a part in the role of Joseph Tame, something I have never really looked into before now.