Hello Reader
Welcome back to the Everyday Mentor newsletter!
My hope is that together we can build a community of like-minded people who understand the vital nature of pursuing a healthy soul, as the foundation for all of life.
"A Career Built on Convergence"
The goal here is a healthy soul. We understand that our external realities in life are largely driven by our internal foundations. In other words, fruit comes from the root. If we take the time to work on what matters internally, we increase our likelihood of bearing influence on our contexts externally.
Some of the traits/behaviours of a healthy soul include; Peacefulness, Forgiveness, Solitude, Gratitude, Simplicity, Mindfulness, Joy & others.
There are many factors in life that try to bear influence on the health of our soul, and it is incumbent on each of us to what we CAN do, with that which IS in our control, to arrange the elements of our life in such a way, that will enable us to properly tend to the fertile garden of our souls.
Every area of life needs the positive impact that can be facilitated by the pursuit of health in our soul life . . .
Our relationships, Our money, Our career; Just to name a few.
Today I want to speak to the factor of career, and how our approach to it, could be harming or helping our goal of a healthy soul.
I want you to open your mind to the possibility that your current career path may be contributing negatively to the health of your soul. Secondly, I want you to open your mind to the truth that you CAN change your life, when you see good enough reason, and you want the change badly enough.
So, getting back to the title of this article . . . What is convergence? And why does the question matter in the context of career?
Well, a simple working definition for us today is to say that Convergence is 'when the right elements come together at the right time for the right reasons'
I want to seed your mind today with the idea that convergence (as defined above) is not only possible in your career life, but is non-optional for people who truly want to experience the traits of a healthy soul that we listed above.
Make sure you keep reading all the way to the end as I am going to give you some practical hints that will serve as guide rails in your search for a career built on convergence.
The very sad reality in today's world is that many people (perhaps most people) exist in a career context that is deeply dissatisfying to them. For some people, describing their work life as unfulfilling is to put it mildly. Others, would happily go all out and just say it plain, that they actually hate their job.
This reality is so sad. It's not meant to be that way!
I'm well aware that hard work is not meant to feel the same as drinking a cocktail in the warm sun by the pool on a tropical island. However, there is a big difference between work that drains the living existence out of you, versus work that is purposeful and fulfilling.
The latter is what I am proposing to you is possible. When work / career / job are anything but purposeful and fulfilling, the experience is soul-destroying!
In fact, when this is the case, your soul literally experiences a degradation over time that snatches your joy from life.
I'm here to try and help you turn this around if this is you . . .
The unfortunate and lamentable truth is that the traditional education system has largely failed most of us in this regard. (Note to teachers: My grief with the traditional education system is not directed at you. Further to that, I accept that the changes I would propose, would be extraordinarily difficult to implement, even if there were an appetite for change).
You see, most of us traversed along the same assembly line: Be quiet and listen > You will be told what content is important to know > Study hard so you can do well in your exam (aka - a memory test) > Score well in your exam so you get a good offer to go to University > Do well at University to secure the highest possible paying job.
The HUGE problem I have with this traditional method, is that very little regard (if any) is given to the identification, cultivation & empowerment of a child's natural born gifts and strengths.
Most children will never be elite academically, and yet we guide them along an assembly line in the pursuit of that singular thing.
However, all children will be elite at something - Music, Sport, Art, Digital technologies, Problem solving, Engineering, Compassion, Communication, Film etc etc etc.
If we were better positioned to direct more resources and customisation to the right questions at a younger age, we would produce much healthier, happier, fruitful people.
These questions include; What do you love? What are you good at?
But, when the method is stereotypical, so too are the outcomes produced (Note - I am well aware that there are schools, teachers and especially families that are the exception to the rule described above)
The better path is a career built on convergence, facilitated from the youngest age possible. The earlier the process begins, the easier the path is to find. Nevertheless, commencing the process of seeking a career built on convergence, can produce results from any starting age.
There are 4 key questions I want you to ask yourself. In fact, you could write each question, and their corresponding responses (plural) into a circle of their own. Take your time to answer each question practically and thoroughly.
What do you love?
What are you good at?
What is beneficial to others?
What can provide an income that you can live from?
Whatever listed items (it can be more than one) appear as responses to at least 3 of those 4 questions (4 is better, but at least question 1, 2 & 4), is the key that unlocks the door to a career built on convergence, that will bring you the greatest sense of joy and purpose, filling your soul with health, and making you smile through the chapters of your story.
Now, the scary part. Take a moment to ask the same 4 questions about your current career context. Do you love it? Are you good at it? Does it benefit other people? Does it provide sufficient income for you and your family?
If you answered yes to these questions . . . Awesome!
If you answered no, I have to ask you . . . What are you going to do about it?
As I already stated, change later in life is certainly not easy, but it is possible. I myself have proven it's possible starting from the age of 47 (aka deep into middle age)
If something about this resonates with you, but you're nervous and don't know how to even start going about it, let me know by replying to this email, and I can help you further unpack what might turn into one of the most important pivots of your entire life.
Filming for the soon to be launched "Everyday Mentor" YouTube channel began this week. I'm excited to bring that content to you all real soon.
I would love to help you.
Please reach out any time by replying to this email.
Best Regards Always!
Andrew