Today I remember a conversation I had with my husband years ago. We were talking about careers and our future. We asked this question: "What makes you feel most alive and most like yourself?" His answer matched exactly with what he was already doing with his life.
Mine didn't, but I was getting there. I felt most alive and most me when I was teaching and writing. So I reasoned that God made me for these things. In His goodness and creativity, perhaps God made it so that when we are doing what we are supposed to be doing, it will feel like we're fully alive, energized, and truly ourselves.
I'm starting to believe that when we find that thing we were made for, it won't feel like drudgery. Maybe it won't feel like work.
Psychologist Greg Hocott was once asked how he could manage his difficult counseling practice. He writes, "I think the answer is found in doing what God created us to do. We are all endowed with specific talents and gifts, and as long as we live within them, 'work' seems less difficult."
Maybe this explains why blogging never feels like work. Maybe this explains why I can't wait for the new semester to start. I'll tell my students that I love teaching and writing so much that I would do it for free. That's a good thing, I'll tell them, because I practically am doing it for free. Nobody teaches for the money!
Living with flair means finding ways to do what we love. It means being brave enough to pursue those paths.
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Journal: Do you love your work so much you would do it for free?
Having now witnessed your classroom style, Heather, I can definitely agree that teaching is what God made you for. You offer a unique and engaging approach to writing. I have learned a lot from your book, but your "personal delivery" of the concepts in a classroom setting is even better!
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean! I felt a little...dead, until I started a path towards my dream. I blog, write and cook; all things that make me feel alive, most I do for free,but it's the happiest I've ever been!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing! :)
I can't believe how much I'm reading on this lately! Let's continue to get the word out! :)
ReplyDeleteDO you know the story behind writer/blogger Jon Acuff? very inspiring!
ReplyDeletehe wrote the blog "stuff christians like" and then wrote a book based on the blog...and then another blog and another book and then another book...all within just a couple years...
he was able to quit the day job that paid the bills and become all that he always imagined he could!
go find him at jonacuff.com