Do you ever feel like that day job pays the bills but leaves you feeling hollow, drained and unfulfilled?
Who hasn’t felt that way?! Sure, I’ve got a handmade business and my time spent on it is the most fulfilling experience I could imagine, but I still have some part-time jobs that have nothing to do with my life except that I trade my time there for money which I use to buy things for living. I think that that detachment, that disconnection between life source and life’s work is one of the biggest causes of depression in our society today. But (like in the movie, What About Bob) by taking “baby steps” toward Authenticity, we can increase that sense of fulfillment in our lives. There are 3 main categories where we can work to increase the Authenticity of our days:
Authenticity of Materials – The geologic and life history of natural materials make them more meaningful than synthetic ones. (bone, stone, wood, linen vs. metal, concrete, plastic, acrylic) When the material you’re using has an embodied history and meaning in it, then your experience of using or working with that material is a more fulfilling one
A real stone and fossil coral necklace: the pebbles were hand collected by fellow handmade artisans and handcrafted into a necklace by myself! Honey Tree Necklace |
One of my favorite books! Read more about how the idea of “living a handmade life” really fires me up here in my previous blog post. |
Authenticity of Action – The closer your actions bring you to the source of what I call “the real business of life” the more fulfilling those actions become. Every little step along the way that takes you closer to the source of your existence is contributing the to sense of fulfillment you get from your life. When, instead of buying a frozen entree, you buy a meal’s ingredients and cook them yourself. When instead of buying your food at the big-box grocery store, you get it from someone at the local farmer’s market. When, instead of buying vegetables at the farmer’s market, you grow them in your own garden. When, instead of buying seeds for your garden, you save seeds from last year’s tomatoes. Each increment along the path toward Authenticity of Action brings with it more work, certainly, but also an increased sense of ownership and responsibility for your own life. Again, the point isn’t to become subsistence farmers (unless, of course, you want to!) it’s to make any move toward living closer to the “real business of life”. Any effort in that direction will bring greater fulfillment with it!
Authenticity of Interaction – When you are really you in all of your interactions (with family, friends, strangers, bloggers, twitter-ers, customers, everyone!), when you’re open, honest and sincere, then you’re using your true self to connect with those other people. If their interaction with you is just as authentic, then, well, that’s the most meaningful and fulfilling thing that there is! It’s like the Indian salutation “Namaste” which means, roughly, “The divine presence that is in me, honors the divine presence that is in you.” It’s the notion that deep down at our cores, we are all equal incarnations of holiness. My true essence nods in acknowledgement of your true essence. We are the same.
Thanks for joining me! I hope I inspired you and have helped you see some ways that you can move towards more authenticity and fulfillment even though you’re still working that day job. You sure aren’t the only one, I’m right there with you! Until next time: Namaste 🙂
Jeannee says
Hi! I came across you on Etsy and from there, to here! I have a question /// long-term struggle with something that you raised here ; perhaps you are the gifted woman who can help me out??? When you talk about something like cooking 'a real meal', I nod, I know … and I groan. I'm disabled, which means I have trouble with fatigue and with lifting heavy things (there are days I avoid pasta because of the weight of the pot). With the fatigue, I have put things in the fridge to defrost, and then had to toss them out, because I was too tired to cook that night. So yeahhh I've resorted to alot of frozen foods – until I've been dx pre-diabetic ;- And what is the first thing the doc tells me? I need to COOK. Thanks a million, doc! So … for my health … as well as for an authentic life … I do need to cook … but how to do that when a body is so tired that to put butter on crackers takes all that you've got?!
Jenny says
Hey Jeannee! Thanks for taking the time to look up my blog all the way from my Etsy shop!!
Sorry to hear about your troubles. I thnk the first place i'd start in your situation is with keeping a lot of fresh, dried, or frozen fruit on hand. Then I'd be sure to stock up on canned nuts (salt and vinegar almonds are my fav!) Then get some prepared hummus (I like Tribe's original), veggies (sweet pepper, cukes, carrots, lettuce) and whole grain bread for hummus and veggie sandwiches. Another great easy meal is canned beans heated between two tortillas with or without cheese with and with or without canned salsa on the side. Or a taco salad: lettuce, veggies, pinto beans from the can, cheese, avocado, salsa! The key is to include easy non-cook proteins and veggies in the meal planning. Make all grains whole grains! Buy organic natural peanut butter (smuckers makes a tasty one.) Spread that on whole grain bread or toast instead of on a cracker. Believe it or not, I buy most of my groceries at walmart, so you should be able to find these foods 🙂
I do a lot of "quick and easy" meals for lunches because I'm so pressed for time!!
I hope this helps! Feel free to drop me an email for more food chatting! jenny [at] jennyhoople.com. Always happy to help!!