Are you still fired up every day when you go to work or have your enthusiasm and zeal waned over the years? Has the stress of the pandemic drained your eagerness for work and life? Here are three tips to help you reignite your passion:
1. Remind yourself why you chose your profession. Did you become an attorney to promote justice, solve problems, help businesses grow and drive our economy? Did you become an accountant or wealth manager to help businesses and individuals grow and manage their financial well-being?
Even if you’re not doing exactly what you imagined, you’re probably fulfilling nuggets of those early dreams. What are they and how can you fulfill more of your “dream work?â€
If you love the concepts of your profession, you might find it rewarding to teach or mentor students or professionals following in your footsteps. If you love the influence of your profession, can you focus less attention on the tasks of your work and more on becoming a trusted advisor to your clients? Those are just two ideas to fulfill more of your early dreams. Can you think of others?
2. Challenge yourself to grow and change. Does this seem overwhelming in light of all that you already do? Probably. Is it essential for your continued zest for life? Yes!
Maybe you’ve been avoiding learning something new or making a change in your life that you know, if successful, will make your life better. By the way, if you only attempt goals that you know will succeed, you’re not stretching enough.
What s-t-r-e-t-c-h goal would add new energy to your life and work? Have you fully embraced social media? One of the most fully-engaged social media users I know is a 60-something attorney who is an early adapter of all things electronic. It not only feeds his enthusiasm, but his social media savvy feeds his practice with new clients.
Have you thought about expanding your practice or adding a new service? Do you want to explore your creativity? Learn a new language? Light a fire under yourself to learn or do something new and challenging. Make it B-I-G.
3. Get clear about your purpose. Why are you here? Whether you believe you were born with a purpose or you believe you chose one doesn’t matter. Get certain about what it is.
What are you naturally gifted at doing and what gives you great satisfaction? They’re often the same and they’re usually related to your life’s purpose. Is your purpose to teach others? Is it to grow our economy and create jobs? Is it to serve justice and equality? Is it to inspire others to work collectively, as it might be for a practice or firm leader? Is it to entertain or inform, as it might be for a writer?
Know your purpose and align your life and work to its ongoing fulfillment. In the words of Marianne Williamson, “Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.†Be brave and bold in proclaiming your purpose and you’ll reignite your passion for work and life.