An Inside Job

Most of us thrive on a little “Way to go!” every now and then. It is helpful to hear that we are doing a good job so we know we are fulfilling expectations. Receiving a compliment on a project’s success, our management style, or positive attitude toward a challenging situation does more than just put a smile on our face. Affirmations can often set the course for our path forward as they motivate us to keep pushing on.

But what if they don’t come? What if we’ve been pushing on with our best effort, and it seems that no one is noticing, or worse, we sense we are being taken advantage of. Then what? Fishing for affirmations is definitely not attractive. It is then that we must go within and find motivation from the inside.

What does an inside job look like? It means defining who you are apart from your career, even your family. It means soul-searching until you can describe yourself, your values, your quirky passions you wouldn’t trade for the world. It means knowing what makes you feel whole and good and worthy just for simply being alive on this planet. 

I have a saying: “All I’m ever going to be is a Child of God. And that’s good because that’s all I ever need to be.” That’s my inside job. What’s yours?