Nine Indicators of Professional Bliss
November 16, 2010
Finding your purpose and practicing it in your profession is an immensely gratifying and productive experience. Your Professional Destiny is Work (with a capital “W”) that reflects a deep desire with you. It’s Work that inspires you and ignites your creativity. But, how do you know if you are in it? Here are nine indicators, excerpted from my book, that will tell you:
You are engaged. When you’re doing what you love, you become passionate about your work and lose track of time. You feel alive, energetic and creative. There is simply not enough time in the day to do what you can’t wait to do.
You feel on track. Things come naturally. Work seems easy, though it may not for others—because you’re exercising your gift. Your level of satisfaction is your true guidance system.
You feel honest. You’re being yourself. You’re pursuing a path that is in line with your values and interests, and you’re living in true authenticity with yourself.
You become lighter. Being true to your values allows you to shed a huge burden—the burden of maintaining a facade. You instantly experience a sense of relief as the weight is lifted.
You are committed. You clearly set your vision and do what you say you will. You may not know how you are going to get there or when, but you know that you will.
You operate with compassion. Your sense of individual freedom gives you a new sense of community. Your interactions become genuinely rewarding and you create true connections with others.
You make a contribution. What you are doing is meaningful and, while you may be well compensated, your driving force is contribution above money.
You are fulfilled. When you fully express your gifts, talents and creativity, you feel a deep-seated sense of satisfaction. Being on the path to reaching your full potential just feels great.
You make a difference. Your work positively impacts others in a most meaningful way. You’re confident that you’re leaving a legacy, and you’re gratified by that knowledge.
Ultimately, your Professional Destiny is a soul-level urge to fully express yourself and try something deeply interesting to you. It’s a dream that you carry inside—maybe it’s time to let it out.
Filed under: Doing What You Love,Job vs. Career vs. Life's Work
4 Comments Leave a Comment
1. Michael J. Spangle | November 16, 2010 at 10:34 am
There is an element to this that has not been addressed. It has to do with those days that are not so blissful.
1. There is some aspect of your work that is routine or administrative in function. Engagement then has to be based on a commitment, not just how exciting the work is.
2. You have to fight to stay on track when others would seek to derail you. You have to determine if that the track is the right one and, if it is, then staying on it is the right thing for the right reason, even when others disagree.
3. Your honesty is regarded as stupidity, and your refusal to lie is punished. Then you have to decide if you are being honest because it is the best policy, or because it is the truly right thing to do.
4. The commitments you have made and the realities of the demands feel like the weight of the world on your shoulders. This is a test of your endurance, knowing that the goal is worth the suffering.
5. Nobody cares but you how committed you are. This is when you have to decide to do the right thing even if nobody cares to watch.
6. Your compassion is mistaken for weakness and vulnerability. Here is where the true quality of your heart is brought to light and you have to ask yourself, “Am I prepared to forgive my enemies?”
7. You can’t yet see the fruits of your work and you ask yourself, “How much of a difference am I really making anyway?” Here is where your faith in what you are doing gets tested and its true value is revealed.
8. Fullfillment has to come from knowing that what you are doing is really worth it and will make a lasting difference.
9. Then there are the times when the positive difference you are making in the lives of others is not appreciated. You have given them a new skill and their boss has rewarded them with more work. You enabled them to get the promotion they always thought they wanted and now they realize that they also have new responsibilities.
2. Valerie Hausladen | November 16, 2010 at 2:02 pm
All true at certain points in time. As I’ve said many times… the journey to your Professional Destiny is not for the faint of heart. It also takes stamina, commitment, discipline and trust. Do you think it’s worth it?
3. Tweets that mention Profe&hellip | November 18, 2010 at 11:02 pm
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4. Ruthann | November 19, 2010 at 7:14 am
Wow.
Thought provoking comments from MIchael! I’m reading them over and over and remembering those times when I felt the same exact way.
Especially the vulnerability being weakness and the honesty being regarded as stupidity.
I was the doing the right thing but for the wrong organization in both cases.
Thanks for the reminder Michael. Never let their pressure of unacceptance make you change.
I love this blog!
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