All in a Day’s Work?

As I picked up my 5 y/o son from summer camp, he immediately asked, “Is Daddy home? Will he be there when we get home?”

“Daddy is at work already, Honey,” I replied.

“Awww, man. Why does Daddy have to go to work?”

Pause.

Now, I didn’t even get a “Hello, Mommy” or “Thank you” despite curtailing my schedule so I could pick him up at 3pm, and not leave him in aftercare for hours.

What I really wanted to say was, “Daddy has to go to work to pay for all this sh*t you enjoy. From summer camps, to light-up shoes, to swimming…this stuff costs money! —You ungrateful little turd.”

But thank goodness I was mindful, and restrained myself from barking out a resentful reaction, crushing his sensitive spirit, causing him to spend hours in therapy as an adult to undo all the inflicted “Mother Trauma.”

Instead, I replied, “Daddy goes to work to share all his talents, abilities, gifts, and skills with others. He likes the feeling of being able to share and make others feel good.”

Then I brought it down to his 5 y/o level:

“Remember when you felt bad for Michael after his bike was stolen? You wanted to draw him that bicycle picture. How did it feel to give it to him?”

“Good,” he replied.

“How do you think it made Michael feel?” I asked.

“Better,” he said.

“And remember when you played the piano for your friends and family? How did that feel?”

“I liked it, and Ms. Dhar (his teacher) smiled. It made her happy,” he said blushing. 

I told him, “See—just like Daddy, you go to “work” by using your unique talents, abilities, gifts, and skills to help & serve others!”

And I could tell by the gleam in his eyes that he was getting it.

“Mommy! I want to make a video for Auntie Micka to tell her how her new car works!”
(Anyone who has met him, knows that calling my son is a “Car Aficionado” is putting it lightly.)

Real talk: I was proud of myself for pulling that lesson off completely on the fly, all while maneuvering through LA traffic, no less!
Super grateful to have gotten an intuitive download on how to respond vs. the reaction I wanted to fire off!
And I'm feeling *hopeful* to have laid a positive foundation for him around this idea of “work” and not this bad thing one has to do with dread.

So what about you, dear reader?

How is your mindset around your “work?”

Are you waking up each day and feeling grateful to use your unique talents, abilities, gifts, and skills to help & serve others?

Is your “work” worth the tradeoff of being separated from your family?
Or in some cases, delaying even having a family, if you want one?

My wish for you is that you feel JOY in your “work” and fulfilling your purpose.

If you’re feeling more like your work is anything less, or you’re merely working a j-o-b to pay the bill$, then let’s talk.

I’ve been there. Ohhhh, have I been there.

I’ve had jobs where I feel like I’m merely trading my time for money, just so I can go give it all away to pay outrageous rental rates in Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, all those unique talents, abilities, gifts, and skills…they were silently dying inside, desperate to get out and express. Longing to make me feel more connected to my purpose and passions.

Fortunately, I made changes in my life (which is why you’re reading this article).
And equally important, I’ve become really good at helping people to use their unique talents, abilities, gifts, and skills to help & serve others.

If you’d like a different experience in your "work," then book a complementary Breakthrough Session and let’s talk about it

Live well,

Gigi

P.S. If you want to be a good friend, share this article with someone who could use a positive paradigm shift.