As philosopher Alain de Botton points out, our work has become so closely tied up with our identity that the first question we often ask new acquaintances is not where they come from, but what they do. We invest our energy in our work, and it nourishes our heart, to a greater or lesser extent, and gives meaning to our lives. At the end of the day, our outer life is where we grow in our inner life. When we work in an area that touches other people, we can find that there is a harmony between our outer selves and the inner work we are doing. All of us look to be coherent and not fragmented in our relations with the world. We strive to find the role in life that nourishes the sources deep inside us, makes us feel complete, and where we can be our true selves. Unfortunately, many people can underdevelop their talents and potential, or even deny parts of themselves out of fear of what others may think. Sometimes we need to be daring and believe. Our life's mission is to bring all the key aspects of our being into our daily life or else we will not be fulfilled. We know when that happens because we feel alive, and real energy begins to flow. The question comes down to what we want to create with our lives. Life is not easy for any of us.
But what of that?
We must have perseverance
and above all confidence in ourselves.
We must believe that we are gifted for something
and that this thing must be attained.
Marie Curie
