This is a guest post by Debbie Phillips.
Recently I was in New York City to lead a Women on Fire® Tea Party and to meet with reporters, editors and producers.
It seemed everywhere I went someone said something to me about “reinventing” themselves. Or, they commented that someone else has, should or is planning to. I was even asked if my work leading the Women on Fire organization is a reinvention after my career in journalism, politics and television production.
Hmmmmmm? It never occurred to me to think of it that way.
On my way out of the city, at the airport, I picked up More Magazine and what’s on the cover? You guessed it! A full-length article on “Reinvention—For the Risk- Averse.” The article actually contained some good strategies for changing careers.
But. Ugh. Something strikes me very wrong about the idea we have to “reinvent” ourselves every time we make a change toward what it is we truly want. “Reinvention” sounds like we aren’t good enough and we need to figure out something…anything…to become, and then try to be it.
The soul would much rather fail at its own life than succeed at someone else’s. – Poet David Whyte
Instead, what if it’s simpler than that? What if we made our life’s work to recognize our natural gifts, strengths and desires and create a plan to express them in the world?
That way, each mark forward (sometimes appearing as two steps backward) is the measure of getting us closer to what we were put on this earth to do.
Rather than the inevitable periodic “reinventions,” we would steadily refine what we want and love to do, and become more and more of who we authentically are. Over time, rather than a start-stop-start, we would g-r-o-w into who we are becoming.
Mary Lynne Musgrove, a career counselor in Columbus, Ohio, described to me 20 years ago the progression of my career as “stomping your parameter.” The idea is that when we are in our 20s, 30s and 40s, we are collecting skills and knowledge and gaining experience, expertise and wisdom. By the time we are in our 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond, we put all of that brilliance together and do the work we deeply desire.
Think Madeleine Albright. She went from immigrant child to newspaper intern to mother to college to divorced wife to politics to the National Security Council to U.S. Ambassador to The United Nations to becoming our country’s first female Secretary of State. (With many stops in between!)
Today, at 72, she has grown into one of the most trusted international leaders and advisors in the world.
She didn’t have to reinvent anything. She “stomped her parameter.” She kept moving forward allowing one experience, hardship and success to build upon another.
Living from true passion is what propels us forward – every step of the way.
Debbie Phillips is the Founder of Women On Fire® a national coaching organization to extend the outreach of inspiration, strategies and support for women to be successful. She is the author of Women On Fire: 20 Inspiring Women Share Their Life Secrets (and Save You Years of Struggle!) and co-executive producer of the film Inspire Me!
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