Are We There Yet? Debunking the Myths that Hold Us Hostage on the Road to Fulfillment
Myth #1 All Areas of My Life Need to Be in Perfect Balance(01 of04)
Let's face it, balance is a buzz word in today's pop-psychology handbook used to create an idealism that just doesn't play out in the real world.So, the basic truth, is that if you want to be truly successful and excellent in an area of your life, you are going to have give up some things in order to achieve it. According Marcus Buckingham’s book, Find Your Strongest Life, studies of the happiest and most successful women show that they strive for fullness rather than balance. “They deliberately tilt their world towards those moments that genuinely fill them up”, Buckingham says.The higher you want to build, the deeper you have to dig, and that may require more time and attention in particular phases of your life. In the end, doing what you love, building on your strengths, will bring your more fulfillment that you may have envisioned.
Myth #2 Working Harder Will Make You More Successful(02 of04)
You may have heard it said “you need to work hard in order to succeed.” While hard work and focus is a key ingredient in success, but it is no guarantee.Successful people don’t necessarily work 24/7 or harder than everybody else. They do, however, know how to work smarter. This means a couple of things:Effective time management is more about prioritizing the tasks at hand and getting the most important things done first. Also, knowing how to delegate responsibilities becomes more important as you learn to lead. This also creates a healthy atmosphere where others are grow through increased responsibility and challenge.Working smarter also means giving yourself time to process, dream and strategize. If you feel that every moment has to be taken up by something productive, just remember that giving yourself the gift of time may lead to even more creative and effective outcomes.
Myth #3 Positive Thinking to Achieve My Dreams Requires Me to Be Happy at All Times(03 of04)
Show me a person who is always happy and I will show you a person living in denial! The power of positive thinking takes us only so far, especially if it’s forced. All range of emotions have their place in our lives. Sometimes, a little bit of anxiety keeps us extra motivated, and anger (as long as it is not used to abuse others or ourselves) can be transformed into us finding ways to constructively change a situation. Being honest with ourselves and our feelings gives us clues as to what we need to attend to. Remember, all emotions are essential and natural.“Be the best that you can be,” is a catch phrase that sounds inspiring. Let’s consider this new slogan, which sometimes is infinitely harder, “Be the best that you already are!”
Myth #4 Your Career is Forever(04 of04)
According to a recent LifeTwo survey, the average number of times a person will change jobs has risen from 3 to 7 careers in their lifetime. A similar study by AARP, published in the Shriver Report revealed that 6% of workers over 50 are in the process of reconsidering their careers. What does this tell us? A career is not forever, as formerly thought of, as decades ago. People change careers for a variety of reasons ranging from: a change of interests, general unhappiness with work, midlife needs, growing families, financial reasons, and location changes.This myth should be laid to rest once and for all. You are not alone if you are considering a new career path or tweaking it in a way that better fits your interests and needs.
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