Living the unstrapped life isn’t just about having enough money to work less. It’s far more than that. In fact, you can make way more money than you need and still be “strapped” down by the weight of an unfulfilling career.
I see a therapist regularly and today, she asked me to describe what it is about what I used to do that energized me the most. At the end of our discussion, I had written down three phrases that are vitally important when it comes to the kind of work I do, whether as an entrepreneur or for an employer:
I can help people.
I should help people.
I must help people.
In my old work, I felt a sense of triumph and motivation when I saw someone else get a big win, be encouraged during a hard season, or make a healthier choice as a result of what I’d shared with them.
Whatever I do with the rest of my life, I need to be helping people if I’m going to thrive in it long term. Yes, there are certain situations in which you must simply do hard work whether you like it or not to pay the bills. But while you’re doing that, don’t stop dreaming and planning for the day when you can break free to do what you are really wired to do.
Here are five quick questions to work through as you consider whether you’re in your sweet spot yet or not.
- If I could do anything I wanted to do and be guaranteed success, what would it be?
- Does this meet the minimum earning potential threshold for the lifestyle I desire?
- Is there a market or an employment opportunity that aligns with this?
- Are my hard days manageable because of the bigger picture?
- Can I be happy doing this for five more years? Ten? Twenty-five?
The bottom line is that you should be intentionally steering your life toward that which fulfills you deep in your soul. It might take a lot of time and effort to get there, but any worthy goal will come with a cost.
What do you need to do today to move toward a life you love?
Photo Credit: Megan Nixon via Unsplash.
Brandon Cox is an entrepreneur, Northwest Arkansas Real Estate Agent, and blogger. He’s also a former pastor and church planter who still mentors and coaches church leaders. In addition to Unstrapped Life, Brandon blogs about life, leadership, and digital marketing.
