Things in my life are all 90+% the way I want them.

I’ve been a reinventer for 20 years, and during that time I’ve been steadily creating my life as an expression of my true self.

I live the life I want and love. I’ve reinvented work multiple times and ‘completed’ major reinventions in the areas of lifestyle, geography and relationship.

And yet, I am noticing that I am serious much of the time. What’s with that?

Why am I not joyful as a baseline state?

I realize upon further reflection that actually, I am joyful, as a baseline state. Except in the area of work. And not all of work. Just the business side of my entrepreneurial enterprise. I am joyful when I coach.

Seriousness in the business of work has been a habit for me for as long as I can remember.

This is my epiphany du jour. My habit of seriousness has been so much a part of my work ‘landscape’ that I’ve just grown used to it. I’ve tolerated it. It never occurred to me to question it.

I was taught that you must be serious to be responsible and successful. So seriousness just became a habit, perhaps a kind of survival mechanism in my mind.

I work with clients to help them be happy in their lives! Including work. I know better. I know that ultimate success in work comes from happiness and fulfillment, and from honoring who we uniquely are, aligning with that spirit, and creating our work and our lives from there.

So this is a shock to realize that my baseline mode of operating, in the business of work, is still largely ’serious and responsible’.

This puts a damper on my natural enthusiasm and creative spirit.

And, it’s just a habit of thinking and being, which means I can change it.

I can move through my workdays appreciating, consciously enjoying my work, and still be attentive and faithful to my commitments, without being serious. I can be creative and resourceful and enthusiastic and still be in integrity with me.

It’s all about sloppy thinking. I can change my focus to sort for the joy, creativity, and enthusiasm that are core to my being. It will take attentiveness and awareness, but not seriousness.

I’m starting today.

Filed under: Adventures of a Reinventer on September 27th, 2007