I wrote a blog post this morning for the career consulting list-serv that I frequently post to (I’m a career coach in my day job) on the topic of Connectedness. The gist of it was that when we’re disconnected from our job, the people or the work, we’re miserable.
I can really go off on this subject in a million different ways because people feel disconnected from things all the time. I’ve felt this way. Sometimes it feels like you’re on the outside, looking in. Sometimes it’s a surreal feeling of going through the motions, of being seen but not felt. Of knowing that your physical presence is all that is required.
Marriages have ended because of this. Friendships have been lost when one person stops engaging with their heart and thinks that sitting in front of you is all that’s required. Jobs have ended, careers have shifted, adventures have started and rivers of tears have been shed over not feeling connected to the world.
There’s a gut sensation related to these feelings. Discontent. Anxiety. Depression. Isolation. Fatigue. Anger. And probably a million more. All this points in the same direction; you’re not connected to the world in the way that feels good. You’re not doing that beautiful exchange of ideas and energy with people that value you not just for your skill set but also for your unique perspectives and ability to really be present.
The gut is an amazing source of intuition and doesn’t get nearly enough credit for its wisdom. I’ve decided that I need to let my gut lead the way instead of my head (at least for a while). My brain can rationalize a lot of different things but my gut knows when something feels good or it just… doesn’t.
So what does it look like when you open yourself up to the connectedness of living? For me, it starts with consciously choosing which relationships to engage in, what conversations have meaning, and hanging out with myself. And it means doing things that feel good instead of doing them because I think someone else thinks I should.
Recently I walked into a business and got such a good energy from the people and the place that I thought, “I want to work here. Even for a few hours a week. I LIKE it here. This feels good.” I have nothing else to base this decision off of, other than I felt connected to the place and the people as soon as I walked in. My gut was happy.
So maybe that’s what my life is going to look like for a little bit. Maybe I stop letting my tiny little brain dictate the course of my life and let my wise, intuitive gut show me how to connect with people and the energies that feel good.
