Why is knowing what's important to us - er - important?
I mean, can’t we just accept that this life is random, may be even predetermined and nothing we do is of any real importance?
Er - well, if thinking that helps you: go for it. But if you’re not of the nihilistic ilk then you’re probably looking for a bit more.
There’s something funny about us humans that seems to separate us from the other creatures we cohabit the earth with: We really like having a purpose.
We prioritise aspects of our lives in terms of what’s important to us, and mostly, act accordingly.
When we have a ‘why’ we can do some incredible things.
But what if you are reading this right now and don’t know what you want, or what’s next for you? You might be at a transition point, or trying to make some tough life decisions.
That’s what I’m going to spend this podcast episode helping you work out.
Rather than take this grand theory of Maslow’s as a blanket rule, I want to get specific, and actionable - and leave you with a way to live your life that is in alignment with what matter most to you.
(I’ve also made a handy little workbook to help you work through the method I outline in the show and figure out what MATTERS MOST to you.)
Shownotes: http://wp.me/p5bc9S-26w
May be this was just my experience. May be it happens to everyone as they grown up, fly the nest and have to start getting by on their own two feet.
For me, someone who thought themselves as naturally motivated to perform well, focus on whatever task I had at hand, and get things done: I woke up to a bit of a shock when I graduated from uni and got stuck into my first job.
This was actually an unpaid internship - and looking back, I don’t blame myself for not feeling particularly motivated.
Other than my deeply engrained good-girl fears of ‘being told off’ I had nothing to motivate me to go above and beyond.
Now, none of this was a major problem until I started working for myself.
Don’t get me wrong: I was living the dream. I got to shun that ‘oh god it’s Monday!’ feeling. I could stay up late on a Sunday night. Heck, I could stay up late any night!
I was the boss of me.
This was super fun! For… may be a month? That’s when I began to notice feelings that would become frequent visitors over the course of my freelance career:
Ung.. I don’t want to get out of bed - why should I bother?
What’s the point - nothing I do even works! No one wants what I make.
What the fuck should I do today? I have so much to do - I don’t know what to do!
And introverted dream aside, I was starting to feel lonely and isolated - no one could relate to what I was going through.
After all, I chose this. I asked for this dream - it was my responsibility that it had become a bit of a nightmare.
I was one demotivated creative introvert.
So this episode may not be useful for every single person listening: you might be in a full time job and very happy with your productivity thank you very much - but may be not. You might be trying to get a side-gig, a passion project off the ground in your free time and are struggling to motivate yourself and get it going.
Or you’re a freelancer who knows if they don’t get their act together, this month’s bills are going to be left unpaid. Or worse - you’ll have to go and get a ‘real job’ again.
My aim is to share what I’ve learned in my time as freelancer and solopreneur. What to do when you’re feeling unfocussed, demotivated and well, a bit depressed.
Well, I’ve been there and I know how painful it can feel. Now, we’re going to change that. We’re going to do this as a super tactical, super doable troubleshooting guide for the demotivated creative introvert.
Todays guest is kind of a big deal.
And not just because she’s a New York Times best selling author, or because she was voted as one of the Guardian’s Top 100 Creative Professionals of the Year or any of her other awards and accolades - Joanna Penn is a big freakin deal because it was her podcast - the Creative Penn - that was responsible for me entertaining the idea that one day, may be I too could have a podcast.
Ok - so may be that’s just why she’s a big deal to me. But if you aren’t already a fan of JP - her books, blog or podcast - then I’m willing to bet you will be by the end of this interview.
You can leave a rating and review on iTunes (here's how to do that) and I will be as happy as a kitten with a ball of yarn (or sob into my pillow, depending on what you write.)