By a crazy sequence of events, I now have a subscription to A LOT of magazines.... Self, Ladies Home Journal, InStyle, Better Homes and Gardens, Marie Claire, Real Simple, Harper's Bazaar, and Wired. My mom got some subscriptions free for buying something and put my address down instead and there were also ridiculously inexpensive deals on Amazon. So I get bombarded with magazines every month which I promptly read, chop up for inspiration, and recycle for art projects.
One thing I've noticed lately in a couple different magazines is at least some mention of "A Woman's New Kind of Ambition". Basically that women are not ambitious like men (seeking external success in the form of high pay, a corner office, prestige, etc.) but are instead shifting towards an ardent desire for more engaging and fulfilling work that feels joyful, meaningful, and deeply personal.
I saw a blurb in one magazine that said that one way to live to 100 is to get into a creative field. "On average, according to a recent study, a woman with a creative job has the cardiovascular fitness and other health attributes of someone six years younger". They defined "creative" as anything that you find interesting, stimulating, and that lets you develop new skills on a regular basis.
In another magazine, there was a whole article featuring several women from around the country that gave up the traditional perks (like a regular hefty paycheck) to do something unorthodox. One woman left a lucrative job to participate in a yearlong program in AIDS-racked Africa planting vegetables and taking care of orphans. Another decided to drop out of the IT world to pursue her hobby (singing professionally in whatever gigs she can find and teaching vocal lessons). Still another talked about doing something she never thought she'd ever do: quit her secure, high paying executive job to stay home and raise three children.
54% of women say that their dream job would involve helping to make a difference in the world.
66% of women feel they should give back to the community.
It seems that women are leading the way into this new movement of meaning in the workforce. Maybe this push towards more personally fulfilling careers (that most likely pay far less than current jobs) will lead to the simplifying of your lifestyle in order to afford to live within your means. What a novel concept!
What would you do if money were not an issue? What little steps can you make towards making that dream a reality? How could you change your lifestyle in order to make that goal a real possibility?
Something to think about....
I count it a blessing that I get to do this everyday. I need to be reminded everyday of how blessed I am to have this option. I CAN do my creative work. I don't have to worry about whether or not I get paid to do it.
ReplyDeleteIt can be scary though. And it can be easy to forget it is a blessing.
what an interesting trend the magazines are hitting on. i think it is healthy for anyone, man or woman, to pursue what makes them come alive over a "high paying" job. if we do what we love, we will love living! that's the goal, at least.. i'm far from it, but that's the goal!
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