Judy,

It’s amazing how often we abandon our dreams because of what someone else says about what’s “suitable,” “realistic,” or “practical.” Sometimes the advice is very well intentioned, but that doesn’t mean it’s right. You may have to stay put for now, but that doesn’t mean you can start planning now. You can always pray, and you can always plan.

Start nibbling away. Start making progress. Start gaining confidence.

Then, when the time is right, you’ll be plenty brave.

Your post makes a lot of sense, and it’s gotten me thinking a lot. From the time I was little, I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. In college, however, I was told that I wasn’t “suitable” for that kind of work and should do something else. I do a pretty good job at my current “something else;” I can pay my bills and I have the almighty benefits. But I still feel the tug on my heart to follow my dream, the dream I’m starting to believe was put in my heart by God.
I have to stay put for now because of my contract, and I’ll do my best for the people I serve. I think it might be time, though, to start nibbling on that elephant.
I wear a necklace that says “be brave.” I hope I can be.

Judy

Hi Joe, thanks for the comment.
I definitely think that if we got in touch with what we were really good at, many more people would find work satisfying and rewarding.

Great post! I think unfortunately many people fall into the situation of working for the sake of working. I also think this is many peoples’ fear and why we strive for personal development. Many people are learning to understand their skills and values and start applying these to making money in unique ways. Thanks!

Rock on.

You never know who (or how) a blog post will impact someone after you hit “Publish.” I’m glad it struck a chord, and it sounds like you’re on the right path. I got some good advice a while back about what a person can do when it seems like the path to a dream is taking forever.

1) Pray. And not necessarily for a miracle, but just for an opportunity. That you’ll see an opening to make a move you might have otherwise missed, or that someone who can help might look with favor on you and give you a chance.

2) Plan. Do everything you can to make sure that when your opportunity comes, you’re as ready as possible.

A little side note is to make sure you don’t drag your feet when the opportunity comes. Taking the leap is scary no matter how well-prepared you are, and it’s often easy to wait, with the real reason being that we’re afraid rather than ill-prepared. Just some food for thought.

Best of luck to you on your journey!

Amen, sister.

I have been through a long, hard and sometimes painful process on my desire to go from employee to self-employed for real over the next few years. It all has come down to this: After 15 years of working on the same field for someone else, I feel I am mentally and phisically willing and ready for a big, bold, refreshing change in my life – but my wallet is not, still. Building up a cover for the dry spells that are bound to happen when you start striking on your own is taking a big deal of time, patience and sacrifices. So I am still “sucking it up” (Gosh I hate that term, but it is so accurate) while that moment comes. This reminds me of that joke of the guy praying “Lord, give me patience, but give it to me NOW” :)

But yes, can’t wait for the day where I actually get excited about going to work again. Let’s hope it doesn’t take too long. Cheers!