How lucky I am to have found something I love doing.
I meet people daily still trying to commit to their passions. Simply dipping their toes in a part time hobby job or not willing to make the leap from a job that “makes good money.”
Or nothing to do with work at all … maybe a long desired skill or expertise.
I learned an enlightening concept a few years ago I will bestow upon you:
“If you are doing one thing, you are not doing another.”
Oh how sage indeed.
This concept is something we grow up with whether we know it or not. If I wanted to play football, then I wouldn’t be able to play video games after school.
But I want to zero in on the transition. What it takes to move from doing something I might not want to be doing, and refocus energy into a new opportunity.
Opportunity is scared of filled space. When we are so busy and full of “do,” we miss the subtle doors that open around us.
Put differently, if you don’t create a void, a place of empty space, you will never be able to fill it with that other thing you dream of doing.
Creating the void is the first step. Then filling the void is step two.
This applies to:
- Work
- Fun
- Hobbies
- Health
- Time
- Space
- Thoughts
- Religion
- etc…
Let me take you through some examples…
When I was out hustling the streets for web design clients, I wasn’t spending my days creating amazing content to inspire web entrepreneurs around the world. I did not have the head-space for the creative awakening I am going through now.
Recently I lived far from work while house hunting. My loving in-laws allowed Emily and I to take up residence for a few months to get our feet on the ground (thank you!). I had an hour commute on both sides of the day. While the experience of staying in Parker out in the country is always welcomed, the additional travel absorbed my time for running.
Finally, the very idea of this post has been taking up space in my head for months. I have been like: “man, I need to get this out of my head so I can make room for that next idea … and I don’t even know what it is yet!”
If you aren’t quite getting what I’m throwing at ya, then maybe I’ll quick fire a couple more:
When you are thinking bad thoughts … No room for good thoughts.
When you are trying to prove why something is impossible … You aren’t inventing how to beat the impossible.
When you are filling up on crappy food … You have no room to fill your body with the nourishment it needs.
When you have a great business idea and you don’t talk about it or execute … You have no room for the next business idea (that might actually work).
We must first create the void. This might happen by quitting, purging, or completing the first thing.
Then once we have the space (and we acknowledge it), we can fill itwith something (or the next thing) of true value we appreciate.
With only a limited amount of time on this earth, what are you not doing that you should be doing?
What are you doing that you should not be doing?
Or what are you working on that you need to just ship and get out there so you can make room for the next already!
Because the only way to get those to swap places is to first get rid of what you shouldn’t be doing.
Then, and only then, will you have the space you need to fill it with what you dream about.
Post complete.
Void created.