This blog was archived from June 5, 2015.
"I do not believe in HOPE. HOPE is a beggar. Hope walks over the fire while FAITH and hard work LEAP over it. You are ready and able to do beautiful things." - Jim Carrey
Needing some positivity in my newsfeed this morning! Too much sadness and whining.
There is a video that I've watched about 4x now, I think that it's something I will need to watch constantly, maybe even twice a year for the rest of my life, just to put things back in to perspective. This is that video, if you have time, watch all of it. If not, just the last 18 minutes. It's up there with one of the best commencement speeches ever. Jim Carrey didn't go to college, mind you. Steve Jobs dropped out, another amazing commencement speech from him. This is not to say "don't go to college" or "you don't need college." The point here is that you need to find what you love, what you have already been gifted with. Doing something that serves others.
With as much as I feel I've accomplished in my profession, trust that there is an emptiness at times because the drive can only go so far in this business to where it suddenly becomes taxing on yourself. You will always compare, you will always have that EGO that tells you you can do better and you can try ___. Earlier this year, for my sanity, I got involved in a livelihood project with our cousin, I can't wait to share more about that with you when it's good and ready to launch. It's a TRUE, feel-good project and it gives back, that's all I want. This will make this thing called LIFE, that much easier on me. So what is my point here? What? Even Talia with her photography/kids/marriage can feel emptiness at times? Are you asking if I am human? Well - yes! So what was lacking in my life? GIVING MORE. In GIVING to those who are in need, I have felt that void filled.
If that video doesn't work, you can view it here as well. He is so profound. "Your need for acceptance can make you invisible in this world. Don't let anything stand in the way of the light in it's truest form. RISK being seen in all of your glory."
Funny how we are always seeking a happiness that we already posses. It's just about altering your perspective or finding a change. Your mind is the only thing that ever stands in your way. Remember when Dad was teaching me how to drive? He would be frustrated at how I would take the wheel with half-confidence. "Don't let the car drive YOU. YOU drive the car!" Ohhh Dad... the things you say will never leave me. That analogy can apply to just about everything in life, in the way you think.
I would love to, for a change, hear from people who LOVE their lives and/or LOVE their jobs/what they do.
I'll go first. I am a full time wedding photographer. Reasons I love it:
I have the sweetest & best clients who trust me enough to capture some of the best times in their lives. From engagement to weddings, maternity, newborn, family... I get to witness a family grow and and overcome. I get to see love conquer.
I also get to work from home during the week and witness a lot of FIRSTS with my own children, who think I DON'T work. ;) Currently, my job has put me in a place where I now have the freedom to continue photographing, but I now have the extra time to invest in a livelihood project, or two.
Can you take the time to write out what YOU love about your job/work/life? Can you step back and ask yourself, "what have I been gifted with? How can this gift serve others?"
If you do not love what you do, you can change it with faith and perseverance. I had to work several odd jobs while working towards this. It doesn't just happen*. I started charging for photography 8 years ago but was only able to make it my full time job about 4 years ago. Just like Mr. Carrey says in his speech up there - you can ask the universe for it. But don't worry about how it's going to happen or in the manner it will happen, just be ready to walk through that door when that door opens.
Have an amazing weekend, friends!
All content is copyright ©2015 and cannot be used without expressed written permission.