Freelancing to Freedom

I had a hard time figuring out how to start this week’s post (as you might be able to tell from the title). My goal this week was to be mindful of what the old, wise version of myself might say in certain situations. But to be honest, I don’t really feel like writing about this topic today. I considered not writing at all, but that’s never the answer. I think the old, wise version of myself would say, “Go with your instincts. Write what you want.”

Ok, Wise Self, you win.

What I really want to write today is a response to an amazing Ted Talks video I watched this weekend. I just got the iPhone 4s. Now, most of you don’t know that for years, I’ve been using the world’s crappiest phone. I really could care less about having the latest gadgets, but I have to admit, the iPhone is pretty darn sweet. Officially hooked. And I’ve vowed to download at least some apps that will help me to better myself and improve my knowledge base in some way. Hence the Ted Talks app.

I digress. In this particular talk (http://www.ted.com/talks/shawn_achor_the_happy_secret_to_better_work.html), psychologist Shawn Anchor discusses a topic of great interest to me: the relation between being positive and producing good work. He says as a society, we think that once we reach a certain goal we’ll be happy, but this view is flawed. When we’re already happy, we produce better work and meet more of our goals.

I’ve experienced this first-hand. On mornings when I’m dreading an aspect of my day, I can’t appreciate anything. But when I force myself to smile and list the things I’m grateful for, suddenly the dreaded thing takes on a whole new light. And before I know it, I’ve finished the project I didn’t want to tackle (usually writing this blog. Kidding.).

I encourage you to watch this 12-minute video. Life really is too short to dwell on potential future happiness. Focus on what’s making you happy now and see where you can go with that. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it until the day I die: Your life is now. Live it. I know the old, wise version of myself will be saying it.

This week’s goal: Run!

Song of the week: “Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair” – Arctic Monkeys

Namaste 🙂

Rachel

I just got a cat – some company for this solitary freelancer during the 9-5 🙂