It’s Between Your Ears
17 March 2009
11 Comments
A friend of mine told me a story the other day. I liked his reminder of how your job satisfaction, is more about your perspective, than the job.
It’s Not Your Job …
The story goes like this. As he was walking to his jet, on a picture perfect day, he thought to himself, how boring … one more routine solo flight. Then it hit him. He’s doing a job that other people only dream of. He realized that day and ever since, it’s not your job that determines what you enjoy … it’s what’s between your ears.
Thanks for this post. I’d add that, for me at least, it’s not just what’s between my ears that has me feel fulfilled in my work — it’s also how open and grounded I feel in my heart and in other parts of my body.
That’s so true! Oh wow, it must be fantastic to do that for a living.
Reminds me of when I went sky diving for the first time. The instructor asked me if I was scared, I told him I was scared spitless. He laughed and said good, so was he. After seeing my worried look he said that he’s done over 1600 jumps, but the day he wasn’t scared anymore he would stop cause that’s what keeps him alive.
Hi J.D.
When I saw the title “It’s between your ears.” I was interested in this right away. I always feel that much of our success inculding happiness are all base on what goes on between our ears. What we think, can make it or break us (sort of speak.)
Thank you,
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
What an energy being chooses to enjoy expand beyond what lies between the ears. One benefits immensely form learning to transcend that.
Although you have to admit, there are some jobs out there that really do suck the life and soul out of you, even if you are overly positive about it! Scrubbing toilets will never be fulfilling, that’s for sure…
Hi JD
Your brevity creates real power in this post.
I’d love to hear more from you on how to change “what’s between your ears”. Or, perhaps I will find that in the archives…
Juliet
@ Chris
Well put. There’s a lot to be said for congruence — all parts involved.
@ Louisa
You reminded me that courage is feeling the fear, but doing it anyway. It’s not courage, when you have no fear. It’s our emotions that remind us we’re alive.
@ Giovanna
So true. I think it’s the metaphors and how we run our brains. I like the reminder that it’s not what happens to us, but what we make of it that matters.
@ Liara
So you’re saying mind, heart, body, spirit … and spirit trumps?
@ Craig
Yeah, some jobs suck. I think it’s about making the most of what you got and finding the lessons and more importantly, not missing the chance to enjoy the mini-moments along the way.
Life’s not static, so when a job sucks, it’s unlikely you’ll have the job forever. Either the job will change, you’ll change the job, or the job will change you.
A lot of my worst jobs were some of my best jobs because of who I worked with.
When something just won’t change and it does suck, you have to ask yourself, what’s the one quality you need to enjoy it. And that’s the lesson.
@ Juliet
Thank you.
The secret is to ask yourself the right questions. Thinking is just asking and answering questions, so you have to change the questions. Here’s some examples:
- what’s the best I can do in this situation?
- what can I learn from this?
- how can I enjoy this?
- how can I improve this?
Notice they are all empowering questions. Your brain gets resourceful when you ask the right things.
Hey … love the story. It’s pretty short yet effective. ‘It’s between your ears’ applies not only to job satisfaction but to everything else in life as well. It’s what defines our life experience.
Great story. It’s true that a lot of our satisfaction and happiness is based on the perspective we choose.
[...] It’s Between Your Ears – Sources of Insight “A friend of mine told me a story the other day. I liked his reminder of how your job satisfaction, is more about your perspective, than the job.” [...]
@ Avani-Mehta
My friend is full of these little gems, so hopefully he’ll share some more. It’s a roundabout way of making a point, but the points hit home.
It’s so true, what’s between our ears ultimately shapes our experience.
@ Laurie
I love the fact that we get to choose our reaction. It’s empowering.
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