Work Transition Checkpoint: 11 & 1/2 Months In (In Which I Discover a Limiting Core Belief)

The other day I caught myself smack dab in the middle of a limiting core belief. When chatting with my sister about how I'd successfully used one of my productivity tips back at the office (I'm back three days a week after a year away), I exclaimed "Yeah, isn't it cool that it works in the real world too?"

Um, real world?

Wow.

All this time, during my work transition, it seems I still held a belief that a 9-5 job was the real world, which means that the opposite, the soul-supporting work I'm trying to create, must be the unreal - or dream - world.

I dug deeper and realized that I carry negative connotations for both:

real world = practical, pragmatic, soul-sapping, not fun, paying my dues, grind, responsible, fulfilling an obligation, struggle, weighty, the only viable option...

dream world = flighty, irresponsible, unrealistic, a passing phase, unfounded, unsustainable, escape, narcissistic, money is no object - nor is it necessary, free pass, temporary...

Whoa.

I am so ready to let go of that.

I came up with another kind of world that might serve me better:

true world = grounded, intuitive, self-sustaining (including financially), soul-supporting, aware, believing in possibility AND responsibility (not either/or), taking action, introspective, fostering growth through challenge, ease and flow, dreaming big, understanding my current circumstances, stretching out of my comfort zone, being present, making choices that feel right, contribution...

I could go on.

Mm. Yes, I suspect I'll like living in a true world much better.

The journey continues...

~~~

When you hear the term real world, what comes to mind? What about dream world?

What would a true world look like for you?

Comments

[Kelly]

wow, does that one hit home with me. i haven't had the opportunity to ever ditch the 9-5, but i imagine many 9-5ers might see things the same was you initially did. love how you reframed it.

[Monica]

Thank you for sharing this insight here - I certainly struggle with shedding the limiting belief that following my heart is seen as "woo woo" and flighty, but NOT following my hearts passion is so much more damaging to me in the long run.

I also try to remember that all these crazy 'rules' everyone is following are really just made up, they are not concrete or set in stone so I have the choice to create and follow my own rules =-)

Thank you for this post!