What did you want to be when you grew up?
Do you remember the FIRST thing you wanted to be?
I’m talking about your profession actually.
When I first typed this question out, I paused. Why, I asked, did I type it that way?
Should it have been WHO did you want to be when you grew up?
Or perhaps, WHAT did you want to DO when you grew up?
But what came out on the screen was WHAT did you want to BE?
Did you think about it this way?
What I wanted to ask you was what type of career did you want for yourself when you were a kid.
But the way it first came into my mind was WHAT did you want to BE. As if your profession defined our identity. We sure felt this way when we were kids.
Do you remember?
Did you want to be a teacher?
A doctor?
A police woman?
I wanted to be a teacher so I could write on the chalkboard. I loved that, lol.
I know someone who wanted to be a contortionist. Can you imagine? I just want to be able to comfortably tie my shoes…and see what I’m doing, lol.
It’s something to think about. Not being a contortionist…but…you know what I mean. And…this topic comes up in several ways in my community of Women in the Middle.
First, the majority of us are NOT doing what we thought we would be doing.
I read about a study that reported that close to 80% actually, don’t end up following these childhood ideas. Are they dreams? Or just ideas limited by your young imagination? Are you doing what you thought?
If not, why not?
Second, many of us aren’t fulfilled in our careers in midlife and are looking for a change of some sort.
What can you learn from your early ideas about what you thought you would LOVE to do?
And third, many of us DEFINE our identity by what we do.
Ask yourself, do you see it as more than a bunch of finely honed skills? Is what you do also a passion or are you just counting the hours until your retirement?
So…the question I have for you today is pretty similar except I’m going to separate it carefully into two questions.
- What do you want to do when you “grow up” now, going forward?
- Who do you want to be now that you have more awareness and insight?
The answers to these questions may or may not be related. And I believe strongly that you can find clues in that imagination of yours from when you were a kid.
And, even if you love what you’re doing and it’s not what you thought, there’s always room to add in more of that original idea to your life in other ways, if you want! This is a great way to be a happier, more fulfilled woman in the middle!
Think carefully as you take steps to do mildife on purpose. I’m here for you!
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