The First Steps to Freedom from Fear: A Personal Account - Your Life's Work: Part 9 of 10
1. Stagnating in fear and frustration. I had been solving computer software problems for large corporations for years when I began wondering how the heck I landed in that career path. I loved the people I worked with; I even liked the company; but I found myself complaining about the work and became increasingly dissatisfied with the direction my life was taking. I asked God why, when I was providing for my family and doing an honest day's work, I wasn't content with the circumstances. And I feared that teetering on my 40th birthday cemented me in that career for life. No, Dr. Phil, it wasn't working for me. 2. Waking to hope. Then I read 48 Days to the Work You Love, by Dan Miller. This book revolutionized my thinking. In a short time I became determined to not allow my life to sink in the quagmire of job dissatisfaction. With Miller's book and encouragement from my beautiful wife, I got up the nerve to taking the first shaky steps on a path of entrepreneurial adventure.
3. Committing to change. I declared to myself and sealed it in writing that I wanted a new career and would allow nothing to stop me. Profound how documenting my intention freed me to take action.
4. Choosing the path. Then I had to ask myself, "If that path wasn't working for me, which one will?" Miller's book and other resources assisted with this step of identifying what I enjoyed doing, what I was passionate about, and where I was skilled, to discover a vocation path that combines these elements.
5. Counting the cost. I was now propelled into the "What is this going to take?" phase. I had to define and list the costs and benefits of this change to me, my family, and the world around me. Would I need to ask for help? Would I need to cut out certain activities, have less time at home, reduce other expenses, postpone an event, or build savings? Would it cost relationships in the short term? Was staying where I was at costing relationships already? Was I willing to make change happen, to take the steps to meet my newly declared goal?
6. Taking the plunge. When I knew the answer to the last question was a resounding "YES," I figured out how to rearrange my life to support my new choice. Also amazing how creative I can be when I want something and start fighting to get it.
7. Throwing a rope over. Having crossed the battleground and scaled the cliffs, so to speak, I find myself shouting encouragement to those of you stuck on step one. And not just encouragement, but ropes, pitons, chalk for sweaty hands, whatever gear I have that helped me. So I ask those of you now teetering on the threshold of change: if you're still holding out for the perfect circumstances to make a change, what would those be? Will those circumstances ever be possible? If not, what are you waiting for? What do you need to do to make them possible? If you are willing but scared, ask yourself if you will choose to live according to your fears or your dreams? And finally, do you want this bad enough to make your will stronger than your fear?
For More Gear To Help You Move To Freedom From Fear
 view all news
|
 add to rss |
