If you are someone who is good at their work, this is for you
Your life is beyond what you "do"
Hey Friends
Welcome to Raw and Real, our weekly chit-chat of:
1 Raw and Real conversation
2 One-Liners
3 Gratitudes
Let’s go :)
1 Raw and Real Conversation
I have spent 8 out of 9 years of my career trying to be great at my job.
Always wanting to be excellent and aiming for top rating.
Basically, school version of getting the first rank.
…
However, as I look back, it also unconsciously stopped me from living my best life.
I was scared to take leaves, thinking my bosses won’t like it.
I was available on phone even if I took leaves, to make sure no one else’s work suffered in my absence.
Heck, I even attended a video call 19 hours after my surgery in a hospital bed because I thought just because I was alive, I should attend the call. (PS: My wonderful boss asked me to leave the call immediately.)
Basically, I made work the only reason of my existence.
…
However, last year, as I moved on from my job to create my writing business, I started detaching my identity from my job.
I was (and am) still working very hard, but I also started thinking of how I could have a life that is not just about work?
It was a complete identity shift, but I knew it was much needed.
So over the past 6-7 months, I recreated my working style.
It started with making decisions such as:
Being a solopreneur (not being answerable to a boss or having a team that reports to me or working with a partner)
Creating my route of working (still in progress), and not going the traditional route of building an agency of writers
Sharing my most authentic self on social media and not trying to be someone who I am not
As a matter of fact, last month when I went on a meditation retreat for 11 days, I worked for my existing clients in advance and politely requested my upcoming clients (with whom I was already having conversations with) to close the conversations after I returned.
Had I been the old version of me, I would have been working even on my meditation retreat, scared of: “What if these clients leave once I return?”
This time, I had the courage to tell myself, “Even if these clients go, it would be good because there is no point working with someone who doesn’t respect my time.”
Fortunately, none of the clients moved out.
So, recently, I have been thinking about “who am I” and it gives more identities than just a writer, such as:
I am a writer who writes a blog every day and an ebook every month
I am a pure, powerful soul, who is creating her reality every single day
I am God’s favourite child, and He is with me whenever I want Him to be
I am a supercool friend (would like to believe so :D), and
I am someone who dances to Bollywood songs in my room alone
But that’s about me, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls.
I would also suggest you to think about who you are, outside of the work you do.
It will not only make you explore your identity, it will also make you detached from the only identity you have been holding.
Sometimes a lot of us feel trapped. And don’t know why.
What if the reason is because we haven’t let ourselves know ourselves fully?
Make time to know who you are fully.
Bit by bit. Bird by bird.
So that you can be free, finally.
2 One-Liners
Your past will continue haunting you if you don't work in your present for your future.
Instead of hoping for others to hold you accountable, hold yourself accountable.
3 Gratitudes
Food - When I was unwell last week, my friends used to bring me food. Every single day, for almost 9 days. Talk about selfless love!
Studies - I truly believe human beings function because they learn. At least I do. Internet alone without enlightenment is poverty.
Nature - It helps us live, despite the chilly winters :)
That’s it, friends for today’s edition of Raw and Real.
Hope you have a good weekend reflecting, planning, and being there for yourself.
Until next week
Nishtha Gehija