An Internal Calling to Write
Not too long ago, I was working for a large Financial Services company. I was managing an office, helping people make smart financial decisions and training aspiring candidates on a new career path. Not too long ago I was working in the field, driving my new trainee to see clients. As is always the case on these long drives, (we drive for up to 2 hours) the conversation in the car sort of meanders from business to something more personal. Asking the new agent, “why do you want to do this?” opens up a myriad of emotions. And I find that people struggle with wanting to be successful and wanting to make a difference.
Work had stop being fulfilling to them, and they wanted more.
The new agent and I were able to talk at length about some personal issues they were trying to work through. At the end of our conversation, they looked at me and said, “you should write a blog, or have a YouTube channel or something… I would listen to you.” I stood quiet. That happens when someone tells you something you have heard before, something you have thought of yourself but never followed through on. That would not be the first or last time I would hear something similar. I have been working in a leadership capacity for some fifteen years now. And while I have infinite knowledge to learn and wisdom to gain, I have learned much from my experiences.
Experiences that have ranged from being a Youth Pastor to Counselor to Manager, and at every stage, as I talk to people, one message has remained constant: “you need to write something!”
And so, here I am.
Yet, my motivation and drive stems from more than having the people I’ve worked with telling me I should share my thoughts on a bigger platform, although I am grateful, it has been an internal calling as well.
And what do I mean by that?
While it would be pretentious for me to think that all people walk around thinking to themselves, “I have a calling” I am sure lots of people understand why I say such a thing. Now let’s put all mysticism aside here. I am not talking about hearing a voice and obeying it, or even having some spiritual experience. We can discuss that ofttimes misunderstood topic at a later date. Let’s think a little simpler. When you wake up in the morning, what is the first thing you think about? And by think I don’t mean “I have to brush my teeth!” Although you should brush your teeth! What I mean is as the morning progresses or when you are still sitting in bed feeling groggy and you think to yourself, I wish…., go ahead, fill in the blank.
I wish I didn’t have to go in to work.
I wish I could sleep in.
I wish I was at the beach.
Think about that for a second. I wish. OK, now get back to the real world. Does it suck? If it does, (now you have to be willing to be honest with yourself, it’s harder than you would imagine) let me ask you one question, is it possible that a life exists that you can live, that can make you never want to enter a dream state again? What I mean here has nothing to do with having dreams and goals as we tend to think of them, that’s awesome and you should always push for more meaning in your life. What I do mean is this. Is the world in your head infinitely better than your reality? I’m not trying to be heavy here for the sake of being heavy, (sometimes we hear something and are provoked by it but then find it almost impossible to respond. Kind of like that dream world I’m talking about).
I am being forthright. There may be times you think of what could be and upon seeing your reality you think to yourself, “too hard, not possible.” And that may be true, but it does not mean that you stop seeking to find a more meaningful life. My journey in life has at times been like this. The following explains what I mean.
Not too long ago, that job I told you about with the large Financial Services company, I resigned.
I was not mad at anyone. I was not resentful. I was not even unhappy. I was unfulfilled and found it less meaningful every day. And I thought to myself. It has to be a priority in our lives to find meaning while being responsible. At least that is what I believe. And today, more so than yesterday. Now, even if it’s a small glimpse, you see that writing this post and creating this blog is a journey for me. I plan on writing a book. I already started. I plan on finding more meaning in my endeavors and the work I engage with.
In a way I am fulfilling some of my lifelong dreams of writing and encouraging people that understand my motivation. In the process, perhaps I’ll teach others that don’t see it, something too. That living life is more about pursuing than attaining. The “Mind of Miz” is about engaging in meaningful thoughts for the enhancement of Being. Let’s take the journey together.
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