Yesterday, I asked my life coach, Dr. Joni Carley, if she had read my blog. She had and said she liked it but that I needed to curb my tendency to put "negative energy" out there, even though she appreciated the authenticity of the entries. I guess I just don't know how telling it like it is would be considered negative. Are all the commentators on forums like the one on Barbara Ehrenreich's site (author of Bait and Switch and Nickel and Dimed) just a puddled mass of self-pitying goo? Or, are we people who need a voice to express the travesty of unemployment, underemployment, "middle-ageism," and all its subsequent economic hardships?
Yes, I know I don't have cancer. Or live in the African wasteland. Or find myself in the middle of a war-ravaged country. Or use a wheelchair. But, I have been struggling for some time now.
And some days, finding the energy to write is the only positive thing I do.
Just for the record, Joni is wonderful and has helped me a lot in the last year. She's located in the Philly area but does most of her work via phone sessions. Check her out!
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4 comments:
I wish this blog could be an article on the front page of Advertising Age or Forbes. (because ad execs must read that, huh?). I really haven't read anyone being brutally honest about what is going on as far as ageism in advertising, and it would be refreshing to see this in a prominent publication. And maybe make some decision making execs THINK a bit. Even AARP, (I think they pay 4 bucks a word)....and they should change their name to "AAPUER", "American Association of People unable to ever retire":-))
I am savoring your kind words. But let's remember that this situation is not limited to advertising. It's an epidemic of sad proportions among many white collar professionals, even young folks. Admittedly, however,
it does seem to be hitting the 45+ crowd the hardest.
The saddest part is that I look back and wince at how, when I was younger, I casually disregarded people of wisdom. I regret not respecting them more. I really do.
Just want to clarify - chronicalling, storytelling, and naming what is are all very powerful in terms of affect on the world and affect on personal/professional life. The truth has to be told and this blog is refreshingly authentic storytelling at its best. The concern is balancing time and attention spent focusing on what's wrong with focusing on what's right, both now and in the future - a kind of yin & yang issue.
There is some great work now, both in physics and in human potential technology, telling us how much it matters where we put our conscious thoughts. An authentic voice like Lyn's does the critical work of bringing to light, and truly dignifying, the path of disenfranchised talent.
As a coach, though, my concerns are with my client's intention, aligning actions with desires, aligning life and livelihood, realizing potential, and living joyfully. The trick is balancing a realistic appraisal of the present with what it takes to create the life you want and the work you love.
The data is in - creating change most often requires shifting the mind first. But there's no question that truth telling about what is builds a strong foundation for making dreams come true. So, I guess for me, I'd like to see words of dreams and passions here too because 1. They balance and uplift the stark reality of unemployment and 2. They create a measurable vibrational shift which physicists tell us is required for material change to happen and 3. Because this is of and about creative folks who brought innovation and unprecedented growth to their industry and that talent can't be squandered on only naming the negative, as important as that is.
The culture needs creative minds, especially those with the insights and wisdom gained from struggle and injustices, to envision the road ahead. And, from my experience coaching many creative minds, I know what creativity can do when it gets stuck in the inevitable negative cycles. My point is that the negative is just one part of the overall path. The trick is figuring out how to create forward by fully utilizing the positive and the negative.
Joni, all points well taken. I'm curious if there's anything in the notion that such chronicles actually act as a repository for the negative junk. Rather like plunking the nasty tumor into the stainless steel tray.
That's kind of how I feel after I finish a post. Like that bit of ickiness is out of my head for good.
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