Thinking with clarity

I have been remembering the Maslow pyramid more and more recently.
It's true that your whole self does focus on filling your basic needs.
It is amazing. I've had a good couple of days, where work was ok and I was with someone I really love, that showed also how much she loved me. And with this well being, all my thoughts were a bit clearer, I had quite a few good ideas, I was much more creative and innovative.

Book Tip: 'Night Train to Lisbon' by Pascal Mercier. Very good writing, reminds me of 'Shadow of the Wind'...

Thoughts

How do you bring more clarity into your thinking?
I wish I knew.
I have been battling with thoughts about a woman I have loved for over a year now.
I wish I could be clearer, to know what is best and what route would lead to better destinies.

A good quote

"Life's battles don't always go to the stronger or faster man. But sooner or later the man who wins, is the man who thinks he can."
Vince Lombardi

My generation I find is somewhere in between. I know people who are fully settled, own a house, kids and so on and just want to guarantee they have enough money to live confortably and afford some nice holidays and trips.
Some other people are trully looking to chase their dreams.

I have been educated in the sense that you need to graduate and find a good job in a good company. That is how I started my professional life.
But as I experienced more, including living in a foreign country, I am realizing that something is missing.

I really would like to work with a sense of purpose. I spend most hours in the day working - it should be meaningful!

What I have been doing for quite a while is trying to find out what gives me pleasure, what fulfills me.
I have read countless books, went to seminaries...
What is working best for me is scouring a diary that I have written for the last 5 years. It's giving me much more insight on what I value and like.
But still haven't cracked what I really want to do.
So I keep looking and trying.

"When work is a pleasure, life is a joy! When work is a duty, life is slavery."
Maxim Gorky

Nothing is more true.
There is another similar quote, whose basic learning is the secret of life is to find out what you really love doing and then find someone to pay you to do it!

The truth is that the work-life reality has changed dramatically. The generation before mine wanted and needed a job to then be abble to buy a house, send kids to college, etc
The generation after mine is so much more focused on doing what they want. And finding somewhere to work that suits their desires and values. And simply if it doesn't, they'll go and find something to do that'll fit them.
People are so much more affluent that money is not a need anymore. They jump to the next need, of 'spiritual' fullfilment?

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade wind in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
Mark Twain

I love this quote.

Moving jobs

I am changing jobs this month, remaining with the same company but changing department. Although I have spent many years in the same department where I progressed quickly and was looked at as a top talent, I have decided to move.

I love the current place where I work, good atmosphere and camaraderie but was getting bored with the function and was always travelling. I wasn't enjoying myself that much.

Also, I find that in today's world, more than ever, you need to diversify your career a little bit, to make yourself more valuable in the market place...

I'm quite scared about the new role, as it is quite different and I am risking a lot. And it will involve a lot more politics, which I am not so confortable doing but guess I need to learn to progress?

Interesting is that: now that I know that I am leaving the current job, I am much more efficient and get a lot more done on it. I am much more confident to address people that I previously found difficult.
Why can't I have this efficiency, or this confidence before, when it was a regular day-2-day job? Because acting this way makes me enjoy the job so much more.

Just act. It's a people's world. Things progress by talking to people and making things happen.

I'll commit to speak with open heart.
To share my thoughts and experiences with you. Simply and plainly as I see them and experience.
And hopefully I can learn from it.