Author: Paloma Amar
Executive manager and leader in the non-profit sector
Executive manager and leader in the non-profit sector
Being in transition – a gift?
As I sit to write, it strikes me how counter-intuitive it is
to say that our state of transition can be a gift. It is. In reality, it all
lies in our perceptions.
Most of us have been working for the majority of our adult lives.
We have worked 40 – 50 hour weeks, have commuted and been stuck in traffic; if
we were lucky, we were able to take a few weeks’ vacation a year. As working
adults, we have been expected to do the impossible and have accomplished it… BUT, at what cost? We may have sacrificed
relationships, holidays, children’s events. Some of us may have sacrificed our
overall wellbeing both physically and mentally. No, we did not do this on
purpose or planned to. Yet, we did.
So let me ask you…
When was the last time that you took an introspective stock of who you are?
Most of us define ourselves by our work (e.g. I’m an accountant, lawyer,
therapist, etc.). However, is that
enough? When the definition of our titles/jobs gets taken away, don’t we lose a
significant part of our identity? Yes, we are still mothers, fathers, sisters,
brothers, friends yet those seem to be relegated to the back burner as
evidenced by when we meet people. Often, those who cross our paths do not first
ask, “Who are you?” Rather, the question
is often “What do you do?” We are even
offered sympathies for being in this transition.
Our current state of transition, whether voluntary or not,
offers us an opportunity to re-balance our lives. When was the last time you
asked yourself “what do I want to be
when I grow up…”? Where does my passion
lie…”? Is my passion in alignment
with the work I’ve been doing…? Our
overall feeling of well-being is closely
tied to us answering these questions and, most importantly, following the path
forged by the answers.
Full-time employment
offers a sense of identity, fulfills financial obligations, may even offer an
opportunity to do good for our community. The questions are - what is the fuel
that feeds our overall wellbeing? What has been the toll we have paid emotionally,
mentally, physically?
In reality, I am not saying anything you don’t know. So what
is this gift we’ve been given? It is, in
my mind, the most precious gift anyone can offer. Our transition offers us the
gift of TIME.
We have the amazing opportunity to exhale. Our time is now our own;
we can spend it in a way that best suits our needs and wellness. Our transition
offers us the opportunity to answer the questions about our passions, to align
our passions with our careers, to take stock of who we are rather than what
we do.
So go ahead…EXHALE.
Find your passion and bring that to life. Use your passion to inspire change,
not just in others but, most importantly, in yourself. In essence, take leadership of your life.
Congratulations… you’ve
been given the gift of TIME – use it
wisely.
Great article Paloma! I couldn't agree more. Enjoy YOUR Time! It's an important chapter in your life.
ReplyDelete