Am I on the right career path?

Question

Dear Karen,
What are the signs that show me I’m on the right path for my career?     Cora

Each one of us has a soul dream, some little gem that is ours alone that needs to be recognized, integrated and expressed. Finding our work and giving it to others is the reason we’re on this planet. It’s our job to care enough to listen to that desire, validate the truth and grant it life in the world. It’s common to numb that voice and to deny our light. It takes great courage, determination and persistence to keep walking when others encourage us to settle for less. 

My son worked as an artist for Warner Brothers for several years. He’d say, Mom I have to get out of here because this place is killing my creativity. People who came here as exciting talent have become corporate robots who are just putting in time and counting the days until they can retire.

 That’s the career trap, a place that feeds our survival fears while slowly sucking life from our souls. Pretty soon our eyes glaze over and we become willing to show up for the paycheck and kiss our dreams goodbye. 

Ask yourself this:

Do you feel excited about where you’re going and what you’re learning?

Do you enjoy leaving for work or school because it brings you closer to expressing the core of yourself?

Does your conscience support your actions?

We all hit stagnant places where we lose our way, question ourselves and feel discouraged. It’s helpful to think of those as landing pads for integration so we can quiet, listen and move to another level of understanding. 

Or maybe you’ve been fired or laid off. These experiences can take you into your darkest hour, into the valley of the shadow of death, where you must face your deepest fears, until you find the still place that holds your inner light. Use that light to overcome and propel yourself toward understanding, strength and confidence. These things will help you move through the blocks that obstruct the river of your life. 

Imagination is a way out. Imagination makes all things possible, it makes all things happen. We change form first in our imagination. Close your eyes and sit with, feel and visualize what you want to call into your life. Do it every morning for a full month. Magic will happen, I can guarantee it.   

Find the confidence to follow the path that is true for you, and then surrender to birth, motion and the unknown. No matter how difficult it is, you must cut away anything that keeps you from the truth. The death of the soul happens when we cling to a particular reality. We must remain fluid.

Like Bob Dylan said, we’re either busy being born or we’re busy dying.

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