Do you work because you have to pay the bills? Does your job prevent you from feeling free, or doing what matters most to you?
If you feel tied down by your job, and drained at the end of the day, an important ingredient is likely missing from your career.
Part of what makes a poor-fitting career such a prison for us it that it literally takes away our freedom. And humans are meant to be free.
When we’re not free, our wellbeing suffers. We experience high levels of stress from using willpower all day. That has a huge impact on our physical health and our most important relationships.
And it’s a major sign that your full potential is untapped. That your gifts are being left up on the shelf instead of put to use.
Let’s look at what freedom is:
The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.
… according to the most literal definition.
I like Casey Neistat’s definition even more, which I’ll share in a moment. Casey is a top filmmaker with over 10 million YouTube subscribers and 2.5 billion views. He was able to create a purpose-based business for himself with zero professional training and just his own vision. He’s got freedom nailed.
~ Casey Neistat
I agree 100%.
So, what does “doing exactly what you want to do” mean in terms of work?
It is being able to put your attention and energy on that which you care most about. That’s freedom.
It means not suffering even when you’re doing things you don’t really enjoy because there’s a meaningful purpose behind it that fills your cup. And finding that purpose is possible for anyone.
It is absolutely possible to have a meaningful purpose behind your work – in fact, that’s what you were born to do! That’s why it literally hurts to not be able to do just that!
The right career will make you feel free. Yes – it is possible to work and feel free. You will feel free when your work is aligned with your purpose.
Imagine if your day was like that; using your talents and gifts in service of the things you care most about. Learning what you want to learn and being excited about what you get to create tomorrow. And if you got paid well at the same time, would that not be a great definition of success?
Freedom doesn’t mean not working. It means doing things that actually matter to us. When it matters, it makes all the difference to our career.
When it matters, we’ll get up early and stay up late working on it. When it matters, it actually gives us energy. When it matters, we feel like we’re making a difference with our time on this planet.
That’s the difference between working a job to pay the bills and living your purpose.
Freedom is your homing signal. If you feel free – you’re on the right track. If you don’t, you’re building a prison for yourself. And while the bills are paid, it’s not the greatest experience, is it?
The world misses out when you’re not free.
Whatever that thing is that really matters to you, the thing that would actually give you freedom if you could find a way to make money doing it – that’s where your path lies. And it is possible; the things that matter to you are the things this world needs too.
What I’m saying is that there’s likely already a market for it.
The world needs you, your vision, your ideas, your gifts, and your talents. It’s a win-win situation when we free ourselves to do what we feel most called to do.
So next time you tell yourself you’re going to work to pay the bills, but feel trapped – consider that the thing that creates freedom for you can also be the thing that brings you success.
Realize that feeling trapped is a sign that you are meant to do something different and give yourself permission to discover it.
If you’re interested in figuring out how to live your purpose, consider signing up for one of my sessions below, or attending an upcoming workshop.
