So many of us have this idea of what we would really love to do with our lives, and in order to get to that place, we usually have a lot of groundwork to do. So we do some study, some research, hold a day job, save our pennies––gradually building ourselves up to the point where we can start the business, tour with the band, travel the world, or whatever it is that we’d love to do. Often, we look around for a job that’s non-threatening, relatively easy to do, something that we can totally switch off from at the end of the day, and that’s a totally understandable thing to do. For, if we are clear on what we’d really love to be doing, why would we choose an interim job or career that’s going to involve a high level of commitment, passion, and dedication?

But what happens when you start getting fed up with the day job, unable to contain your desire to get home and do what you love? What happens when you spend eight hours a day, grumpy, irritable, in a despondent, unenthusiastic state of mind?

The conditioning effect - The way we think, feel and act on a daily basis has a profound and lasting conditioning effect over us. This is why people say that it’s what we do consistently that really counts, above the things that we do on a more irregular or occasional basis. If you say to yourself “I’m worthless, I’m worthless, I’m worthless” 100 times a day from monday until saturday and then wake up sunday morning and say “I’m a genius, I’m a genius, I’m a genius!” a few times throughout the day, which statement do you think will be absorbed and assimilated by the mind? The concerning factor in working at a ‘mundane’ job as an interim to your dream career is the ‘conditioning effect of workplace apathy.’

When you spend so much time at your job feeling tired, bored, despondent, grumpy, moody, disinterested––do you run the risk of taking that home with you at the end of the day? If you spend 38 hours a week in a distant state of consciousness, is it easy to return to a poised, present state once the work week has finished? Or do you find yourself sitting down with a whole day to work on your inspiring projects, but end up distracted, blocked, even frustrated? Some people are great at ‘bouncing’ out of the undesirable states and diving into the things they love, even if only for a few hours a week, but even if you can do that, do you want to spend most of your week in a miserable state? Well, often we just jump out of that ‘mundane’ job and move on to another––ride it out for a while until that same frustration comes back again. Sometimes it may take many years to get to a point where we are financially independently working on what we love––so do we keep battling with the same existential issue, or can we do something about it?

Well, there’s lots you can do.

Link purpose to what you are doing now

Sit down with pen and paper and start writing down a long list of all the ways that your current job is serving you and helping you to get to where you really want to be in life. Or to put it simply, write down 150 benefits of your current job. Don’t stop until you reach 150.

What are the core qualities in the current job that can really help you with what you’re planning to do in the future? For example, I’ve worked in many jobs that have required report-writing and a lot of face-to-face communication. At first I resented those tasks, but then realised, “Hey, I want to write, and do a lot of communication and planning with my future career, I could totally embrace this opportunity.” Once you’re clear on the key points that relate to doing what you love, bring awareness and focus to these areas. Affirm that “This job is here to help me get to exactly where I want to be, and this is exactly where I need to be right now. So I embrace each day as it comes and focus on ........ and ......... and ........ By doing this, I am already living my dream. Although it’s in a different form to what I really want, I’m bringing my dreams closer to me every day.”

Ask yourself quality questions

Take the opportunity at work to acquaint yourself with the art of asking quality questions. In any situation where you are communicating with customers and co-workers, start asking questions that bring out the best in people. Ask questions that help people to get crystal clear on what they’re looking for, questions that inspire people to see a different perspective, questions that make people want to open up and connect with you. In staff meetings, bring up questions that help the team brainstorm together and come up with new ways to improve the workplace and get things done more effectively.

When you’re alone, take some time at work to ask yourself quality questions. “How can this job be serving and supporting me to live my dreams? How can I make the most out of my time here? What can I learn from my colleagues? How can I be a source of strength and inspiration to the people around me?” And if the workload isn’t too hectic, use this time to reflect and ask questions about other areas of your life. “What are the most significant steps that I can take in the next year that will empower me to be living my dreams independently as soon as possible? How can I make a more loving contribution to the lives of my family and friends right now? What kind of things could I learn if I began interviewing all the elders that surround me in my family and social circle? What can I do to stop living in a world of fantasies and resentments? How can I be as clear, focused, inspired, certain, empowered as possible?”

Dr John Demartini says that “The quality of our lives are based upon the quality of questions we ask” and this statement is as truthful as they come. There is inner magic in the art of asking quality questions. Teach yourself to ask specific, meaningful, in-depth (not generalised) questions. Ask with passion, depth and sincerity, and then just 'let go' of the mental chit chat and over thinking and go about your life. The unconscious mind (your true genius) will process those questions and resurface with incredible insight, guidance & wisdom to your conscious mind. Your unconscious mind is like the super computer of the universe–it’s tapped into not only everything you’ve ever learned or experienced, but everything that’s ever been learned or experienced by any other living entity. All past, present and future possibilities can be tapped through your unconscious mind, so get into the art of quality questions to draw out the insights and answers you are looking for.

Enthusiasm

If you are in customer service, or you’re working in a team environment, this is really going to work for you. People love to work with or be served by someone that shows some care and enthusiasm. Don’t forget, the world is full of interesting people that would love to network and help you to get to where you want to be in life. To find those people, show some enthusiasm, push yourself to be a little more open and friendly every day. Go that extra mile for people. Don’t judge books by their covers, as you never know who’s going to surprise you next. Some of the closest friends and allies I’ve ever made were people I mis-judged at first impression!

Enthusiasm is a contagious force that will serve you in all walks of society and all areas of your life. No matter how naive and innocent we may be, people will love and remember us for our enthusiasm and inspiration. Enthusiasm is a radiant force that enlivens and revitalises the world around us. Apathy and Pessimism (in excess) are forces of entropy that drain the life from the world around us and leave us entangled in a social circle of naysayers.

Find a day job that’s more congruent with your highest values

If you find that your current job has too many drawbacks and you’re struggling to find enough skills and experiences in the job that will directly serve your mission in life, it may be time to get another job that is more visibly linked to your ideal career. Just say for example, that you are working towards being a financially independent performing and traveling musician. Yet, you don’t yet have the money, experience, business skills or fan base to live independently. You’re working at a supermarket, or maybe as a cleaner, or kitchen hand, and you’re struggling to link what you’re doing to your dream. First of all, get clear on your values. (The process outlined on this page can assist you with value-determination.) Once you know your values, start researching and narrowing down jobs that actually stimulate your values and link to your ideal career. You could either choose a relatively easy going job that stimulates your values, and offers little challenge, or you can take an honest look at your future, and find a job now that helps you face the challenges of the future, by developing skills and experiences now that will equip you for what’s to come. As an example, if you take on a job that requires you to develop communication and management skills, it will be hard at first if this isn’t a primary strength of yours, but when those skills are developed, they will certainly help you as a financially independent musician in the future. If you can find a temporary job that inspires and challenges you to grow equally, this will certainly help you to grow towards your dream career.

Get creative with the day job

Be creative and resourceful with the time you have at work. Print out some jokes and take them to work each day. Make some suggestions for fun activities and exercises you can do with staff in the mornings before the shift starts. Play chinese whispers with your colleagues. If you work as a driver, play some role playing games––pretend that you’re a double agent. If you’re a manager, pretend that you’re a mafia boss! Changes in your thoughts, feelings and perceptions will bring about changes in your daily life. Don’t allow yourself to get stuck in the working-class mold that renders you reactive, dull, frustrated and depressed. Be creative and resourceful in every situation and you’ll find yourself opening up to more and more vitality and love for life. Just remember, everything is pretty amazing right now. Look at where we are in the development of humanity! This ever-changing modern world is loaded with millions of things that we can stand back and appreciate with awe and fascination on a daily basis. So keen learning, keep appreciating, be creative and have some fun with your life.

So in conclusion, it is wise to stop sacrificing and denying the beauty and power of the present just because you have a desire for a different life in the future. The way that you live now is what really counts, and if you make the most of life right now, you are going to be in a better position to make your dreams happen in the future. Fulfillment isn’t some acquisition that you can attain, switch on and sustain forever. So the idea that you will ‘just be happy’ when you get what you want in the future is a total myth. We are always surrounded by a fine balance of challenges and freedoms, crisis and blessings, so there’s all the more reason to embrace life here in the present, and experience an ongoing daily taste of fulfillment right here and now. That fulfillment comes from living true to our highest values, from sitting back, standing in awe and appreciation for our lives, from learning and growing in all areas of life, from loving unconditionally and being loved in return, from simply being authentic and true to ourselves in every way conceivable.

We offer a range of skype consultations that can empower you to overcome the obstacles between you and your dreams, or to help you establish a more healthy and inspiring lifestyle here in the present. No matter what the fears or challenges are, we are trained in a methodology that assists you in breaking through your internal barriers that inhibit you from external freedom and fulfillment. Click here to check out our range of consulting services.