Working in one's strengths

Dave Ramsey says to work in your strengths; that no amount of money will ever really be enough if you're working in a job that you hate.  I feel like he took the words out of my mouth, but he says it so much better than I.  In reality, I suppose he'd better -- he gets paid to say stuff like that and make people believe him enough to actually CHANGE! 

He's good.  It worked.  In fact, last night's class started some wheels in my mind turning.  I've always been thankful for my career for what it allows me to do, but I sometimes hate it, too.  The parts that I dislike are small things that I can typically overlook because the benefits so clearly outweigh them.  For instance, I work from home 100%.  Sometimes this means a flexible schedule and not missing my kids.  Other times it means isolation and never showering and getting dressed in a timely manner and therefore never really feeling anything other than frumpy.  I also work for live television.  Sometimes that means that I truly get paid to sit and watch TV for a living.  Other times it means that I sit on my butt and have to tune everyone and everything out to work the hours of day and week that everyone else is relaxing and enjoying time off (ie, weekends and holidays). 

If I could do anything I wanted with my time, assuming money was not an issue, there are so many things I'd do!  I'd love to be a midwife and lactation consultant.  I'd love to be a personal trainer and nutrition counselor.  I'd like to be a life coach.  I'd like to be a perpetual student and teacher all rolled into one.  I'd love public speaking.  I love writing.  I miss being on the stage, too.  I'd learn guitar.  I'd take vocal lessons.  There are so many things that I am very passionate about that have absolutely no time or place in my life right now because I'm too busy focusing on this great opportunity of a career so that I can be who and where my family needs me to be. 

Is that really okay?  Or am I rolling down a road headed towards burnout?  I know that I'm not feeding my soul with what I'm doing now... but I am feeding my family. 

I went on a jog with a neighbor this morning, and you know what I enjoyed even more than the fresh air, exercise, and conversation?  I enjoyed the inspiration and the coaching aspect of it.  I loved setting the time, place, picking the workout, and then cheering her on.  It made me want to run farther and harder than I would have if I were just doing it for myself.  So while I often get chastised (by myself and others) for always putting everyone ahead of my own needs, I have to realize that I am wired that way for a reason. 

I have always known that everything life has thrown my way has been for a specific purpose, and that is to help others along the same journey.  It's who I am.  And now it's time to find a way to integrate all of my professional skills and personal strengths into one amazing path.  I know that I can find fulfillment once I'm walking along the path that was predestined for me.