by: Debra Lea Thorsen

your work. Sunday nights and Monday mornings will be joyous and you will

know that your head and your heart are in sync.

Often my coaching clients' passions and interests are completely

unrelated to the work they are performing. Well, that's why they call it

to express ourselves in this world. Work, if aligned with our true

selves, can be the purest form of self-expression.

Work as Duty

Too often, we let our "shoulds" guide us down the conventional career

path and then at mid-career we wake up and think, "how did I get here?".

Every time I feel a "should" creeping into my thinking - I need to stop

and be aware of where this "should" is coming from. Most of our

"shoulds" we pick up from other people - our parents, grandparents,

teachers, friends, and others. Rarely is a "should" an authentic guide

to what will bring us happiness or fulfillment in life. I recommend

living by the saying "don't should on me".

Work as Energy

I also believe that we incorrectly view our jobs from a limited

viewpoint that doesn't understand how energy flows in the universe. I

will work 40 hours and receive $$$$. Our goals is often to work the

least amount of time possible for the most amount of money.

Work is really a giving activity. It is a path of service. I give

100% of myself and talents. I give unselfishly of my energy. And I

receive energy in return in the form of money. In this viewpoint, our

goal is to provide the most value possible, knowing that the universe

will match our energy in return.

I have a coaching client who has decided to go to graduate school and

get her masters degree. She is trying to decide between two programs.

One is a more traditional program that will prepare her for a myriad of

corporate jobs when she graduates. The other program will set her on a

path to be a freelancer. She knows that her heart is not in the first

program, but feels it is her "safer" option. She is afraid to choose the

unconventional program.

Follow Your Heart to Discover Meaningful Work

Why are we so afraid to follow our hearts and pursue our bliss? Why

have so many of us lost our inner compass? One reason is the

over-intellectualization of our culture. Ever since the Scientific

Revolution, we have favored our intellect over our intuition. The

Scientific Revolution has definitely improved the quality of life for

many people and has freed us from some destructive superstitions, but at

what price? I'm not going to address this question at the macro level

(environmental issues, distribution of wealth, etc.) but at the

individual micro level.

Our society and its educational institutions teach us to live in our

heads. We favor our rational intellects and many of us are disconnected

from our hearts and bodies. Without this connection, it is difficult to

use our inner compass to chart our life course and follow our bliss. I

work with my clients to integrate the head, heart, and body so that they

are functioning holistically from their body-minds.

I worked with one woman who wanted to find work that she was

passionate about. She told me, "I just need to sit down and think about

this some more." And therein lay her trap. We often believe that if we

just think harder about something, a solution will present itself. When

it comes to finding work you are passionate about, the answer will not

come from your rational, logical brain - it will come from your heart

and soul. To connect with your heart and soul, you need to be able to

access your emotions and body sensations in real-time and connect them

to your thoughts.

If you don't believe me, then think of peak moments in your life -

moments when you felt happy, blissful, relaxed, energized - like all was

well with the world. Where did this feeling come from? Your head or your

heart?

To discover meaningful work, you need to connect with your heart by

paying attention to your emotions. Dismiss any shoulds that appear. And

pursue work from a path of service, knowing that this is the legacy you

will leave to future generations.

About The Author Find out how to break free from the corporate world. Debra Thorsen helps individuals create real wealth and happiness without 9 to 5 jobs. Visit fearlessguides.com for free tips on career change, wealth building, and living without fear.