Reinventing Yourself

Adversity can be a friend or foe depending on how you deal with it. The recent recession has placed wealthy and poor alike without jobs, some loosing their homes. Many Americans are struggling to make a comeback. Finding a job in these challenging times may seem like the impossible dream. Others have taken a difficult situation and turned it into a reinvention moment. This could be a defining moment of reexamination and self inventory perhaps even paving the way to unrealized dreams.

Stories of reinvention have been documented by Jane Pauley, now working with AARP and NBC. She covers stories of baby boomers taking courageous leaps and following their hearts by taking a different fork in the road. In one of her stories she tells of a couple who once ran a marine business on the east coast that is now happily transplanted raising alpacas in Oregon. She wrote another story about a woman who lost her corporate job and is now sharing her passion by teaching knitting on a cruise ship line.

Starting over takes courage, the courage to reset priorities and get real about what really matters. Looking at options outside the box sometimes makes us squirm. Squirming can be a good thing.  Sort of like the caterpillar that squirms his way to becoming a butterfly. Without the struggle the butterfly wouldn’t end up strong enough to fly and survive. Reinvention can feel like working your way through a cocoon.

With careful reflection and planning we can live happier, more peaceful lives. Knowledge of your gifts, talents and beliefs may lead you to a career more suited than the secure job you had but really didn’t like.

If reinvention is something you may be considering, here is what some of the experts have to offer.

• Discovering your passion is the most important part of this process

• As with any successful endeavor, planning is key

• Rewrite your resume reflecting your talents, gifts and accomplishments

• Follow your passion and research the field that seems to be calling you

• Volunteer or get a part time job in the area you find interesting

• Take a class – it may or may not lead to a career but it will get the creative juices flowing, making you feel better about yourself

It’s a possibility that your income will be impacted when you follow your passion. It could go up, it could go down. But making adjustments to doing what you feel called to do is a part of your reinvention plan. The goal is to have a richer life by doing what makes you fulfilled. Those with rich lives aren’t necessarily in high income brackets. Just like those in high income brackets aren’t guaranteed a rich life.

Still learning,

Honey