Cup of Inspiration

Today, February 20^th, is the day to clean out your bookcase. Pull out the books, knickknacks, pictures, and anything else you store on those shelves for daily inspiration and give everything a good cleaning.

While you have everything removed from the shelves, this is a great opportunity to take an inventory. When was the last time you read some of those books? With the spring season coming upon us, is there one of those books you would like to reread while enjoying a cup of coffee or tea outside on a beautiful day? Is there a book that you have always meant to read, but life has gotten in the way? Perhaps keep that book out so you can start on it this week.

Once you finish cleaning the shelves and the various items occupying those shelves, it’s time to put everything back. You can put everything back in the same order that has been pleasing to you all this time. Then again, this is an excellent opportunity to try something different. Perhaps put those mystery books on a different shelf. That dictionary could go on a higher shelf, after all when was the last time you reached out for it? That book about starting your own business got shoved out of view over time; now’s the time to put it toward the front so it gets your attention. Maybe that picture of your granddaughter could be changed out with a more current picture.

Once done, your bookcase will feel new. Even if it contains all the same items, a little rearrangement can give it a new look. The books, small trinkets, and pictures will provide a little extra pleasure. Even if it doesn’t contain anything new, you can still enjoy the same sense of buying a new bookcase and decorating it from scratch. You may even find room in it now for a new book or two.

While today we are looking at bookcases, we can look at our careers in the same way. Look at how your career is going. When you reflect on your job, are you happy? We all have bad days, but at the end of the day, are you satisfied and pleased with your job? If so, great! Even when happy, it is still good to step back from time to time and really evaluate how things are going.

If after such a review, you can honestly say you are not happy with your job, take steps now to move forward. Are you overwhelmed? Would a little extra training help you feel more comfortable and productive? Are you bored? Would a new assignment give you the challenge you need to feel satisfied? Are you just ready to do something different? Have you written out a list of where you would like to be next?

Maybe you don’t have a job to review because you are looking for work. This is an especially great time to really look at your career. Were you happy with your last job, and would love to try something very similar at a new company? Keep pushing that direction. Perhaps, if you’re honest with yourself, you weren’t crazy about the job, but just stayed for the paycheck. Now’s the time to try something new. Take this opportunity to go in a different direction that you were afraid to pursue before. Either way, continue reaching out to your network, take advantage of any learning opportunities, and ready yourself for that next career chapter. When that next opportunity comes, and it will, embrace the chance to work with new people, working with new processes, and all the growth opportunities available.

A piece of furniture holding cherished books, pictures, and other mementos can disappear in the background when life gets busy. By removing everything for a thorough cleaning, you will enjoy that bookcase and its stock of items all over again. We can also apply this method to other areas in our life from time to time.