Brave

I want to start off my Guest Blogger Time with a post from my client, Charlotte Dauphin. A lawyer by trade & an artist by passion, Charlotte decided to quit her lawyering in September & focus on a career that would make her happy. While she’s still finding her way, she writes a beautiful blog, has an incredible portfolio, & just opened her very own Etsy shop! Charlotte published this post on Fri Oct 2nd, & I asked her immediately if I could share it with all of you.

the brave pig is still undecided on loungerie’s flickrstream

As you may (or may not!) already know, I quit my job. My last day of employment is officially October 9, 2009–that’s one week! People keep asking me why I would quit a “perfectly good job” in an economic environment like this one, where people everywhere are clinging hopelessly to ANY job they can get.

And my answer is simply that I am not fulfilled in this job. Yes, I make money. Yes, I have health insurance. Yes, I have my very own office. But when it comes right down to it, I can get those things in many places and many different positions–what I am looking for right now is a JOB or a CAREER that leaves me excited to get up in the morning, where I feel like my energy is making a positive contribution to society and the world.

There is a Buddhist philosophy that thinks that every person born into this world is equally capable of good or evil, and which part is expressed depends on the society and circumstances into which the child is born. If a child is born into a group of people who are unhappy and not contributing positively, then he is less likely to manifest the good and happy in his potential, and so forth. By that theory, every unhappy person in this world makes the world a worse place. So I am trying to change my circumstances so that I may be a more fulfilled and productive individual.

I keep waffling between thinking, “I am so happy that I have taken this negative out of my life and made room to fill it with positives. I rock!” and thinking “Wow, you are so stupid! What are you thinking?”

But what people keep telling me is that I am BRAVE. So I started thinking about the word “brave.” Is that what brave means? Happy, fierce, and stupid? So I looked it up. Here is what dictionary.com had to say:

Brave. Syn.: bold, intrepid, daring, dauntless, heroic.
“Brave,” “courageous,” “valiant,” “fearless,” and “gallant” refer to confident bearing in the face of difficulties or dangers.
“Brave” is the most comprehensive: it is especially used of that confident fortitude or daring that actively faces and endures anything threatening.”

I think I like that! “Confident fortitude or daring that actively faces and endures anything threatening.” I am going to keep that in mind as I face the next few weeks.

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  3. Following My Bliss – Twice

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3 Responses to “Brave”

  1. Ideas With A Kick Says:

    Congrats on your action Charlotte! I think leaving a job to move on to something better is a natural step in our evolving as human beings. Even if you don’t know exactly what that something is. Unfortunately, most of us have a lot of emotional strings attached to our job, and we need to let those strings loose before we can take the next step.

    The financial part comes second in my perspective. Emotional toughness is key here. But in order to get it, you have to realize that you are not your job.

    Eduard

  2. Laura Neff Says:

    Way to go, Charlotte! You DO rock! You’re actually leading by powerful example to everyone around you…shouting through those flimsy office walls that circumstances don’t have to dictate who we are or what we do, and that no matter the circumstances, you are at choice!

    Rock on!

  3. Magchunk Says:

    Good for you, Charlotte! I’m in a similar position at the moment and everyone (ahem, mom) is so concerned about what happens after I leave. I’m concerned about what will happen to my sanity if I DON’T. Totally get it.

    I love hearing inspirational stories like yours. Life is too short to not go for what you love and need!

    Maggie

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