Is Your Work Leading You Somewhere?

“One of the secrets of job satisfaction is being able to see beyond the routine. It is knowing that your work is leading you somewhere. You’ll find satisfaction in routine chores only when you see them as stepping stones. Each chore a stone, leading you in a direction that you choose.” – Napoleon Hill, Success Through A Positive Mental Attitude

I’ve been thinking about exercise and how it has become a habit in my life now. It is just part of my routine to do the Thirty Minute Shred, or some variation there-of, 5 times a week. How did this happen? How and why do I maintain it?

I was watching a short video-interview of Julia Cameron recently. She’s the author of a book I love called the The Artist’s Way. She was specifically talking about another book of hers called The Writing Diet when she said something that struck me:

“For twenty-five years, I’ve been teaching the Artist’s Way. I always see people go from plump to trim in the 12-week course that I teach them. I’ve teased for years them that we should take a poloraid before and after picture. It’s very dramatic the shift in people’s physicallity when they work on their creativity.“

Of course. It makes great sense! That’s exactly what happened in my life. I found creative purpose and value in my life as an artist. I unearthed dreams and passions to chase, and through that journey of realizing my potential and my self-worth, I committed to physically being more healthy as well. It almost seemed to happen by accident. I mean, don’t get me wrong, it’s hard work, and it’s still a daily choice I have to commit to, but the exercise wasn’t the focus. It’s like I tricked myself into doing it.

I desired the energy to chase creative dreams, and so the mundane day-to-day of the exercise became a stepping stone in the direction I was choosing to go. My end-all goal wasn’t to be fit, my end-all goal was to be a healthy artist with creative purpose in my life. The rest just seemed to fall into place.

I think we need a purpose bigger than a thin waistline. A purpose bigger than a clean house. A purpose bigger than cutting out TV. A purpose bigger than getting out of debt. We need to know our work is leading us somewhere! We need a reason to be at maximum capacity! Why do I need energy and vitality and enthusiasm? Because I’m chasing after something bigger than myself, and I need all the extra minutes in my day and energy in my body that I can muster. I need all the wisdom I can glean. I need to eliminate all the resistance I can.

I think it all begins with desire. What do you desire out of life? What’s your idea of success? What’s a life well-lived look like for you?

Tagged as: artist, creative, exercise, fitness, Inspirational, self-help