Showing posts with label career. Show all posts
Showing posts with label career. Show all posts

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Life Purpose

"There is nothing more truly artistic than to love people." - Vincent Van Gogh
What a great quote. It says in one sentence what I have said to people seeking their life purpose for a long time. As an artist I originally started my career in architecture. While there were many things I loved in that field I always felt there was something missing. In the early 90's by a "good stroke of luck," I ventured into working with people and absolutely LOVED it. For years I wasn't clear how I could love this work so much when it seemed to me (and to almost everyone I met) such a far cry from what I had loved doing as an artist.

When I started working more specifically with people as a career coach I began more and more to see how creative my work actually was. As part of the process to finding a career with passion clients would list things that they love to do and look for a translation to a career. Often times people miss the clues to possible paths because we fail to look for the less "obvious" connections.

In this process I could see how easily one could assume that as an artist I would want to pursue a career in graphic design, illustration or architecture, but actually when looking at the whole person, the work I currently do is a much better fit for me. This work combines my passion for creativity, my love of working with people and my value for freedom, family and community. Truly I am blessed to have found it!

This re-minds me of the three concentric circles again. What we see on the surface is related to what is at the center, but what is at the center can translate into many different things on the surface.

Today's journalling question:

What are you translating from your core in a literal way that could be expanded? What other ways could this core part of you express in your life?

This blog post dedicated to my dad, Wayne Bartels, one of the most passionate and talented people I know, Eddie Jones, my friend and very talented curriculum writer Sheran Mattson, and my very creative friend Shaunna O'Dowd.


Tuesday, February 1, 2011

NaBloPoMo


In November I wrote a post entitle "A Pie With 8 Pieces." In that post I said that it is important to know which piece of the pie needs your attention, or in other words, which of the 8 aspects of your life needs the most attention. Last week in "Two in One," one of the two re-minderz was how helpful it can be to talk something over, out loud with a good listener. Just the other day I was talking over my life with a friend, incidentally the same friend I mentioned last week, and I had another important awareness. Again, I am so grateful for friends!


Currently the piece of the pie needing my attention is the career piece. Now the interesting thing is this was a little tricky for me to see since I also have more work for the month of February than I have had in 3 years! Nonetheless, I have not been blogging like I want to, and that is an important piece of this pie for me.


While beginning to give attention to this, I ran across NaBloPoMo. My daughter had participate in NaNoWriMo, in November - isn't that interesting timing, and so I was interested. For NaBloPoMo, authors can sign up to make a commitment to posting to their blog everyday. I did it. I signed up! That is one way to hold myself accountable, but then I pondered whether or not to say something to you....and here I am sending this out. Now that really feels like accountability.


So, I'll be here everyday in February. I invite you to stop by and say hello. I always enjoy your comments, and I just found a way to make it easier. You no longer have to become a member to comment. Simply click on the word comment below, and type away!


What area of your life needs attention today? What one thing could you do to make a difference for yourself in that area? What are you committed to? How does accountability work for you?