Cruising back down I-95 from camp recently with the ‘random song’ choice set on my ancient iPod – yes, it’s still working! – an old favorite tune came on: Child’s Song, recorded by Tom Rush. It’s a beautiful, deep, and thoughtful song about a highly transformative time in the song writer’s life. It’s a goodbye song to the young singer’s family. He has decided that it is time to leave home.
The song is poignant, and the lyrics are beautifully sensitive to the changes many people experience when they first set out to follow their own life’s path.
While there are many meaningful lines in the song, the one that speaks most directly to me is, “Each of us must do the things that matter.”
Stop for a moment and ask yourself – “when was the last time I reflected on what matters most to me? What principle do I believe in? What do I really care about? Am I in a place in my life where my choices and actions reflect who I am and what I value? Is it time for new choices?”
Our character and our values are cornerstones of our being. When we chose to live our lives aligned with what is most important to us, when we can be authentic and act from a place of personal integrity and truth, we feel alive with possibilities and our energy flows, positive and strong.
However, when we find ourselves in a place in life where we cannot be our true selves or act in a way consistent with what we value, we feel it as stress, dullness, unhappiness, or some other form of psychic pain. When what we are doing does not align with our character and values then life feels heavy and burdensome.
What are you feeling about your life right now? Are you cruising, aware that you have found a readily available flow that empowers you? Or is some aspect out of alignment, and you feel stuck? Perhaps you know why you are in a great place in your life, or you could be clear that past decisions are holding you back from the vitality you want and deserve. What is happening at work? What about your relationship with yourself, your friends, your partner or your family? Maybe you value health and wellness – are you living these values or not living your life this way? You have a choice.
As a coach my job is to help you explore your understanding of the life you are living, the way it is here and now, and also the way you want it to be. Acknowledging the barriers that are currently limiting you will help you make new and more enlivening decisions about your life. Achieving the personal growth that you want where you can feel a sense of increasing fulfillment requires greater self-awareness and an intention to identify, explore and live from your core values and strength. When you address the challenges you face with a new sense of direction, understanding and purpose you will make better choices and be motivated to take exciting, life affirming action.
When we know and accept our true selves and allow our character and values to drive our choices, we become empowered to act and to get more of what we want and need from this amazing life.
“Each of us must do the things that matter.” Let’s talk about what matters to you.
