I just listened to Arianna Huffington speak about her project, Thrive Global, from No Limits with Rebecca Jarvis.
I was instantly hooked. And that’s how I found this amazing new resource.
You see, I have tried to live my life for several years now, in ways Ariana speaks about. I turn off my phone at night, because I’ve noticed I sleep better. I recognize the importance of not letting technology control me, I have always had old outdated versions of smart phones … with limited access to apps. I have been laser focused on getting the important things done, like a project slapped on my desk in the afternoon that must be filed the next day.
I have also been good about saying no to the less important things so I can make room for what’s more important to me and what I want out of my life.
“I would love to, but I’m so sorry, I cannot attend the social tonight as I would rather spend this evening with my kids.”
“Thank you for employing me, but I would like the flexibility to work out a schedule that works for me. It is very important to me to be able to take my son to his martial arts class. Can we discuss this?”
I have always guarded my creative capacity, because I am a creator. If I could be paid for it, I would love the opportunity to tinker away in a lab and experiment and create.
It seemed to be working. But then my boss moved, and I got laid off. It’s only been a few months, and I think I need to be patient.
But, I am at a juncture in my life where it feels like my desire to guard my creative capacity and make it in the “real world” might not be working. I work in IP law. I have an electrical engineering background, I have five years under my belt as a patent attorney. Supposedly, I have some valuable skills.
I’m at place where for some reason it seems like the old school method is winning, and my method is losing. When I was employed, I noticed that everyone around me was stressed, working 9 to 10 hour days, even on the weekends. Despite some fears that I was falling behind, I kept saying “no” to distractions, and “yes” to what was important. Now I find myself wondering if I’ve fallen so far behind that I won’t be able to catch up.
I hope to figure out how to make it work so I am gainfully employed again and I continue to get eight hours of sleep at night and thrive.
But I find myself wondering if maybe we all have to go through the wringer first before we can slow down and thrive? Maybe we have to make it to the level of Jeff Bezos before we are afforded the luxury of eight hours of sleep at night? Maybe we have to burn out first and ride on the momentum we created on our way to the top before we can slow down? Or is there another way to march to a “slower” beat, and maximize our potential throughout our life?
I haven’t figured it out yet, but I hope to one day.