Are You Eating The Right Shit Sandwich?

Whatever career you are currently in, I ask you to think of it as a shit sandwich for the moment. Or longer, if you see the humour of the metaphor like I do.

Most of us had to navigate stormy waters in a dangerous vessel that was commonly called “high school”. During the peak of the chaos, pressure and studying, we were expected to make the most expensive financial decision of our lives. A pretty weighty choice to make before reaching the mature and wise age of 18…sound familiar?

Some chose their career path based on their passions, natural talents and biggest dreams for their life. In my experience, there are very few of us who remain happy with their teenage self.

If you are like most of us, you didn’t have a clue what to choose.

Well-intentioned relatives, guidance counsellors and let’s be honest, absolute perfect strangers were piping in to tell you what to do with the rest of your life.

Their advice sat on your shoulder like a little devil twirling his moustache with a mischievous glint in his eyes, reminding you that you were just a kid and these other people knew much better than you.

While these “experts” do have a lot of credibility based on their own life experience, they are not experts in all things YOU. This is REALLY important; ultimately, you outsourced the most expensive and impactful decision of your life.

Staying true to the metaphor, you let other people decide which flavour of shit sandwich you have to chew, savour and swallow …. for the next 4 decades.

Not very tasty or satisfying is it?

You can’t avoid eating one, but be crystal clear that you are eating the right shit sandwich.

No matter what field you are in there are stacks of shit sandwiches in the lunch room. All careers have long hours, endless personal sacrifices, frustrations and many moments where you wonder if this was the right path.

That said, if you don’t ask for seconds when those shit sandwiches are being passed around, you won’t be a true success in your work or in your life.

The million dollar question remains, is the doubt simply a by-product of feeling overwhelmed all of the time or are you actually on the wrong path?

Many people feel confused, filled with dread or even break into a cold sweat when asked this question,

What is your true purpose?

Here is a tip to solve this massive problem

Simply ask yourself if you want to keep eating this shit sandwich for the rest of your working years and voila, you have your answer! Congratulations to those of you who are asking for seconds; life is far too fleeting to be so dissatisfied day in and day out.

I wrote here about a key element to creating happiness in your life.

Author’s Note: I want to give quick shout out of huge gratitude to the always inspiring Elizabeth Gilbert (Big Magic, Eat Pray Love author) for this amazing metaphor.

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Until next time, live, work and play in FULL bloom.
your Coach, Lisa van Reeuwyk