Life is too short to hate what you do. Why is it that such a huge percentage of people are willing to sell their souls to the devil by working in a job they hate? The answer is just one word: survival. People tend to dwell in survival and use it as a justification for discontinuing growth in their lives. They use the excuse that they won’t be able to find another job that pays as well. Perhaps they say they can’t move because they could NEVER sell their house in this market. Maybe they are afraid to lose health care benefits. The excuses are endless.
I have a very good friend who up until yesterday, literally, worked up to his knees in crap all day. He is smart and loyal and talented. Yet for years, he has continued to gripe and complain about his job. He has had this type of job since I have know him and that has been over 7 years. Let me be clear: he HATES his job. It is a constant source of misery, upset and dissatisfaction in his daily life. He spends his time counting down to when he has to go to work next. Yet, when asked… “Hey, why don’t you look for a new job?” His response is always… “nahhhhh” or “I’ll never find something else that pays me this well.” And he continues on his way to hop into the sewers. It is as if he is committed to suffering… huh, interesting.
Why would a person who is smart and talented and resourceful be committed to suffering? Unfortunately, my friend is not unusual. Many people continue doing the same thing they have always done, expecting something to come along and eventually change. We have all heard this used as the definition of insanity. I call it a commitment to suffering. We go through our lives, waiting for “one day” and then, before “one day” ever comes along, we die and it’s over. Harsh, huh? Sometimes facing reality is that way. Any way, back to my friend.
Yesterday he got laid off. He is SO happy and relieved. Sure, it’s going to be a hardship for his family for a bit, but he readily admits that this is what it will take for him to finally get a new job. He would never instigate change himself, but forced into it, he’ll create opportunity. Again, he is operating out of survival. When he has to find a new job in order to survive, he’ll do it. Why isn’t it enough to just want something different, to think you deserve it and then make it happen? Many human beings continually operate inside of this survival mechanism. It’s safe. It’s easy. We know what to expect. Sure, we are miserable, but we’re used to it. Most people are willing to sacrifice happiness for safety in what’s familiar. And, what’s even worse is that we convince ourselves that it’s the best we can do. This lie keeps survival in place. The truth is that you can change your life at ANY moment, if you aren’t changing it, you are committed to suffering. It’s black and white. Once you face this truth about your life, you can impact it. We spend so much time in survival and resisting the truth about it that we are asleep for most of our lives. It becomes a vicious cycle.
Stop this cycle today. Take the truth head on and alter your life.
What would life be like if you identified what you wanted in life and started creating opportunity today? What would your life look like if you were passionate? If you hopped out of bed full of zest for life, eager to get to the day? What would life be like for my friend if he decided exactly who he wanted to be, threw aside the fear and jumped head long into his destiny?
I imagine it would look something like this: (talk about someone who loves his job!)
What are you waiting for? Today is your “one day.” Make it count!
Dancing Traffic Cop @ Yahoo! Video
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