There's a coaster on my desk that I bought at a little craft store awhile back.
"Do what you love. Love what you do."
It speaks to me as I put my coffee cup on it when I start my work day.
It reminds me that I want to live in a way that my work aligns with my values and I'm spending time doing the things I'm passionate about.
That's not always easy.
It's like trying to find the perfect pair of jeans.
Or shoes that don't rub when you run in them.
Or people that you want to spend lots of time with because they make you feel great about who you are and where you're headed.
We know when something doesn't fit. We know almost right away.
But it can be hard to admit it. To ourselves and to others.
Shoes...maybe not so much.
But a job or a relationship...man, it's not easy to step back and recognize that they aren't in line with who we are.
We make excuses and we justify. We think it just might take a little more time for things to feel right.
And all the while, the blisters on the sides of our feet are growing.
Finding the right fit takes work though. And we are the only ones who know whether something truly fits or not.
It might require going to five or six different stores until the jeans or the shoes feel right.
Or dating a few more people to find that person who truly lights us up.
Or finding the courage to speak up at work and ask for something different, something that we know best fits our skill set and our passion.
The hardest part is that no one else is going to do it for us.
There's no instruction book that says exactly what we need to do to get there either.
We have to dig deep and find courage and patience as we navigate the path. We have to trust the process.
But when we do find it, it's a game changer.
When that pair of jeans fits perfectly, or that shoe makes us feel light as a feather, or we wake up in the morning excited to go to work...
That's where the magic is.
I've finally found that right fit in my career. After more than 2 years of struggling.
When I started at this company, after COVID vaulted me out of a 20+ year career in travel, it was a shock to my system.
I knew almost right away that the work didn't align with what I enjoyed, that I wasn't adding as much value to our organization as I could have been.
It was hard for me to admit that. Felt like I was telling the world I was failing.
But that wasn't it at all. It just wasn't the right fit.
For months I struggled, feeling out of place, anxious, and frustrated, before I finally spoke up.
It was terrifying to talk about it at first. Until it wasn't.
The leadership team was amazing and supported me. But they didn't do it for me. They challenged me to dig deep and figure out where I could best fit.
It took a few more months of talking to multiple people in different areas of the company about what opportunities there could be for me.
And then I found one.
But even after the decision was made, it took time to make the transition. I was in both roles for awhile, which was tough. There were days when it was hard to wait patiently!
It took time to close out the projects I had on my plate. To make sure our clients felt supported and my coworkers who were taking over had what they needed.
But this week it finally happened.
I've made the switch completely now and it's blown me away how much better things feel. My energy is different, things feel clearer.
It's like the confidence you get when that new pair of jeans fits in all the right places.
Or when you just know that you are doing your best work, that you are helping other people, and driving positive results.
I know this new role will bring with it plenty of challenges. I'm still a realist after all.
But when the fit is better, and we know we are living into our values, the challenges are easier to handle.
Now when I get ready to start my work day, I can look at that coaster and smile, knowing that what it says is true.
Do what you love. Love what you do.
In all areas of life.
Find your right fit. Do what it takes to get yourself there.
It's so worth it.
Visit my author page on Amazon
Or find my book at Barnes and Noble
And at our local Oconomowoc Bookstore - Books & Company
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