Mary hasn’t always felt disconnected from her job – relative to the twenty years that she has been a highly successful sales manager, she recently started to feel like she is living an unfulfilling life.
The trouble began when she received a big promotion that doubled her income. After the initial excitement wore off and settling into her new role, she worked more extended hours, had increased responsibilities, and felt more stressed.
Yesterday I found myself having a conversation with Mary. She’s a great manager and an excellent communicator. When we chatted about why she feels dissatisfied with life, Mary paused and said, ‘I finally have all the success I’ve always wanted, but I feel empty inside. What is wrong with me?’
I gave Mary the best advice I can give someone who feels like they are living an unfulfilled life. To connect with the part of her, that is profoundly dissatisfied and listen to what it has to say. More importantly, to listen to her heart – remember what inspired her to become a sales manager twenty years ago and remember all those things that make her heart sing.
Mary quietly nodded. ‘I love helping people, and I love dancing too. And I can’t even remember the last time I went out to dance’, she said.
Like Mary, most of us associate success with materiality. We believe that the more money and material goods we have, the happier we will be. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Happiness is not something you find by becoming successful or achieving more. Happiness is something you create from within when you start being true to yourself, and give yourself permission to sing and dance to the rhythm of your heart.
What makes your heart sing?
What is the song your heart is longing to dance to?
What’s one thing you can do this week to dance to the rhythm of your heart?
From my heart to yours,
