“What do you do for a living?” is a very different question than “What do you do for a life?” Personally I didn’t want the two to be in separate responses. Working for a living is required in my non-trust funded existence. My truth is I love to earn my living and I am willing to do what it takes to enjoy my life.
That didn’t happen in one season.
For years I subscribed to the concept of “you have to be a professional something, after all you did high school, college, graduate school and now “wallah” you’re xzy…which in my case was an educator, a specialist for children and adults with giftedness, behavior disorders, learning disabilities and cultural difference. Who knew that was the perfect preparation for working with creatives and families in business?
But back to the story.
The Bible says that all things are permissible, but not all things are profitable in our lives.
That caused me to pause and really return to the words over and over again in my life. Profitability matters to me. When I worked with young minds and hearts, I knew that they would not profit from activities that would not encourage, edify, and empower them to be strong thinkers. The same is true in my own life. It was an easy connection.
However, I didn’t understand for a long time that profitability has to be defined in all areas of your life. It turns out that success can kill you just as fast as starvation. Ask any of the families who have done the work to have a successful business and outcome. Time management, mindset management, food and fuel management, relationship management and the plain old work doesn’t get easier with success, in fact it gets more encompassing. Intentionality matters if you’re going to thrive as a work from home family or entrepreneur.
This is the one and only life you are spending, do you know what you are buying with your time? Your energy? Your presence? Your effort?
What actually makes the life you want to live happen? That’s the journey we’re on, and actively pursuing. Why not take some time, just a few moments, and begin a list somewhere of the life you want to live. A few of our notes were:
We want to live…
As a family who is close in relationships and enjoys one another’s company
Debt free and able to support other’s needs when hard times come
As a family in integrity with our belief in God, in our work with others, and with intentional focused processes
As individuals who mature their God given gifts and shares them with others
As a couple who relishes being married to the other and appreciates the privilege this life is.
What are some of your base desires in your life? The real stuff, the meat of who you want to be? Have you thought about that lately?