Diane Bolden’s Synchronistically Speaking

I have always been amazed by the number of people who seem to think of work as something of a necessary evil – simply what must be done in order to earn a paycheck.  For so many who toil through their workday, the primary goal is to make it to the weekend so they can really live.  Going through the motions, working side by side with others whose hearts and minds they seldom truly connect with, they withhold the very parts of themselves that make them come alive. 

For some it wasn’t always this way.  Many began their careers ignited with passion and optimism, only to find that their flames began to flicker as they encountered obstacle after obstacle that kept them from achieving what they believed would be success.  Succumbing to the unwritten rules of the organizations and other environments they found themselves in, which suggested they needed to act or think in a certain way to get ahead, they may have slowly sold out on their dreams and relegated themselves to quiet complacency. 

Many of us were not brought up to expect that work would be fun or gratifying in any way – nor should it be.  That’s why they call it work, we may have been told.  As a result, we may have never really expected much from our careers or professional lives.  And as the saying goes, life has a way of living up to our expectations.  In just about every corporation, nonprofit or other organization, you will find people in jobs that do not ignite their talents and passions.  Some remain dormant in those jobs because they fear that if they pursue their hearts’ desires, they won’t be able to put food on their tables.  Many do not realize that there might be a better alternative.

Most of us have learned how to turn ourselves on and off at will, in an effort to spare ourselves the pain of disappointment or frustration – or to maintain what we have come to believe is a professional demeanor.  It is not uncommon to hear people say that they are very different at work than they are at home.  Those golden parts of ourselves that we think we are protecting suffer when we do not let them breathe and interact in the very realms that provide us opportunities to learn more about who we are and what we are here to do in the world.  We miss the chance to become a part of something greater than ourselves.  And the organizations and communities we are a part of miss out on the unique contribution each of us has the potential to make.

We can no longer afford to fragment ourselves in this way, denying the fulfillment of our secret dreams and downplaying the insights we have about what we can do to make life better – for ourselves and everyone around us.  As more and more of us feel the pain that accompanies the denial of our spirits, we start to realize that the time has come for us to bring the totality of who we are to what we do, no matter our vocation, title or role.

We are beginning to awaken to our unique calls to service, creativity and innovation.  As we find ways to unleash our distinctive talents and passions at work, we will significantly increase the quality of our own lives, as well as those of everyone around us.   Corporations that take steps to create environments that allow people to thrive will be met with rich rewards as ingenuity pours forth in ways that lead to increased profit and market share, as well as the creation of self-sustaining cultures that inspire people to achieve ongoing success by doing what they do best.

There are people among us who have the ability to snap us out of our trances – our states of quiet desperation – and help us bring more of who we truly are to everything that we do.  They can do this for others because they have done it for themselves.  They are called leaders. 

You may be one of them.

Copyright Synchronistics Coaching & Consulting 2010.  All rights reserved.

If you liked this post, you may enjoy other articles written about Boosting Creativity, Productivity & Effectiveness.  Download these and others for free at www.DianeBolden.com/solutions.  While you are there, you can subscribe to receive a new feature article each month.  You will also receive my free report on 10 Traps Leaders Unwittingly Create for Themselves – and How to Avoid Them.

Living on the Job

Do you ever feel that work is something you must “make it through” in order to get to the weekend?  I think at one time or another we have all felt that way (myself included).   When you look at the way most of us are indoctrinated into the world of work, it is easy to understand why many compartmentalize and keep it separate from their personal lives.  Work, we are often told, is not supposed to be fun.  That’s why they call it work.

Yet most of us occupy more of our waking hours in this activity than any other.   For better or worse, we spend more time with our coworkers than we do with our own families.  To live a life that is truly meaningful, we must factor in this large part of our everyday lives.  Life is too short to only truly live after 5pm and on the weekends.  And if ever there were a place that offers us a chance to perform our God given talents in a way that makes even a little difference, it is at work – where we are surrounded by others with whom we can pool our energy and passion to create something worth working for.  Day after day, we return to another opportunity to shine. 

To what degree do you show up on the job?  I don’t mean physically – but mentally, spiritually, holistically.  Do you see your work day as a series of boxes to be checked so that you can go home?  Do you refrain from sharing your humor, your dreams, your honest opinions and wildest ideas with people while you are there?  If so, you may not only be cheating them, but also yourself.   

People I coach who desire greater satisfaction and fulfillment at work often believe things might be better in a different job, with a different boss, or even in a different organization or company altogether.  Some believe they must leave their current situation in order to make a bigger impact.  While this may be true, once they have decided they cannot find what they seek where they are, they risk cutting themselves off from achieving it at all.   We cannot put conditions on our ability to be the people we were meant to be.  Either we are doing it, or we are not. 

When we are aligned with our true selves – those parts of ourselves that are creative, unique, strong, inspired, connected, passionate, present, and of service to others – we will find joy and satisfaction wherever we are.  We can zone in on that which we would most like to do in the future, and find small ways to embody it now – no matter the circumstances we find ourselves in.  In the process, we will touch people’s lives and improve the quality of our own.  Challenges that require what we do best will find us, and as we rise up to meet them we will attract additional opportunities, resources, and people of like mind to assist us in rising to greater heights.   

In order to do this, we must resolve to live fully – both on and off the job.  In what ways might you have a greater opportunity to bring more of who you are to what you do?  What are you waiting for?  The world needs you now.

“Whatever you do in this life, take time to sit quietly and let the world tell you what it needs from you.  Take a moment to honestly understand what your gifts are – you all have them.  The way you choose to live your life brings meaning to your life.”  ~ Ann Reed

Copyright Synchronistics Coaching & Consulting 2009.  All rights reserved.

If you like this post, you might enjoy You Can Be the Change We Need.  Download this and other articles for free at www.DianeBolden.com/articles.  While you are there, you can also subscribe to receive a new feature article each month.