Recently, I attended a workshop that focused on the book The Element written by Sir Ken Robinson. In his book, Sir Ken Robinson talks about self fulfillment and creativity. He helps his readers understand that “The Element” is when natural talent meets personal passion and that when people finally arrive at “The Element” they feel most themselves, most inspired, and achieve at their highest levels.

This workshop, got me thinking.  So often people don’t get to experience what being in “The Element” is. Some people can’t identify what they are good at or passionate about.  Other times, people may think that their talent is something they are good at or something someone else told them they were good at, but in actuality, its not their true talent or passion. Just because you’re good at something, doesn’t mean you are passionate about it. I started to look around and realized that I knew a lot of people who appear to be just going through the motions in life.  Few of them are working in “Their Element”.

We all work to pay our bills, support our families, and buy nice things. So in effect, work is just a means to an end. We don’t necessarily enjoy what we do, but we continue to stick with it anyway. It becomes comfortable, easy, and most of us are afraid of change. So we continue on the same path not wanting to deviate from the course we outlined or have planed for ourselves.

However, as we continue to live this way, we begin to realize that we aren’t happy, passionate or even like what we are doing.  These feelings make us  begin to crave a change.  However, we can’t always identify what we want because we don’t allow ourselves to explore what that may be.  Furthermore, if  we do realize what we really want to do, it seems so scary and maybe even unattainable.  Plus, so often our friends or family has said or may say:
“Why would you want to do that?” , “That won’t make a living.”  “That’s a hobby not a job.”, “There is no money in that.” So instead of exploring our passions, dreams, and desires, we feel stifled and stay doing the same monotonous thing, day in and day out, afraid to make the jump to do something different. So I ask you; is that really living? Isn’t part of life about the adventure and taking risks? So why are we so afraid to do something different? Why do we let road blocks or other people’s beliefs get in our way?

I made the decision a few weeks ago to resign from my job. It was one of the scariest things I have ever done. I was leaving a consistent pay check, health benefits, and a pension but I did it anyway. It took a lot of soul searching, talking about it with friends, and negotiating with my husband, but I did it.

While I have enjoyed working in schools, I particularly loved working with students and families, I was getting tired of the politics; which was taking the fun away from my job. It didn’t really make me feel good anymore and I often found myself dreading to go to work.

I believe the universe guides you to where you are meant to be. When I began to accept the signals and signs, I knew that I needed to make a change and move in a different direction. So I began to think about what I am passionate about and where my talents lie.  What I love, feel good at, and am passionate about is physical activity. I love yoga, running, and crossfitting. Being physically active is such a huge and important part of my life, so why not make a career out of it. And that is exactly what I plan to do. I plan to continue to teach yoga and open my own studio, run and coach running, and coach CrossFit. It may be hard, I may have to work longer hours, and it may not break the bank but at least I’ll rise each day with a smile and know that I am living life the way I want to. What could be better than that? I get to make the rules.

My last day at my current job is December 15, 2015. I am excited to see what the future holds. I always try to remind myself that great things lay outside our comfort zones.  We  need to work on getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. I can’t wait to see what amazing things will be coming my way!!

So what do you want out of life? What is stopping you? Go get it!

 

Live the life you love and love the life you life!