In Part 1 of Chasing your Dreams, we talked about the conventional wisdom we always hear in books and from gurus about what it means to be chasing your dream.
Mom, after hearing gurus tell you that you need to be chasing your dream, do you find yourself asking the question, “So where do I fit in? My dreams don’t fit into the conventional wisdom and wouldn’t be on any guru’s ‘approved’ list.”
Many of these mom gurus will tell you that your worth and value as a person should not be attached to your children. But in the next breath they will tell you that your worth and value is tied to your career because this is an approved dream. Can we bring balance to the force?
Let’s be rebel moms and change what it means to chasing your dream.
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Broaden the Scope of Chasing Your Dream
I am all for dreams and goals that you want to pursue. These are necessary to help give direction and purpose for to your life. But I want to broaden the scope of what these dreams look like and what it means to be chasing them and pursuing your passion. Sometimes what you are passionate about just won’t pay the bills. So it is time to rethink what we’ve always been told about dreams and passion.
It can be overwhelming to even figure out your passion when you are in the midst of trying to raise your tiny humans. And the culture has conditioned us that being a mom isn’t a “good enough” passion. Your time and energy is consumed by your kids. When they are young, it is a physical toll on your body. When they get older it is an emotional toll. So it seems unrealistic to even think about your dreams—you know the ones on the approved list, not your other dreams.
Being a Mom is Not a “Good Enough” Dream
Let’s get very real for a moment. In the guru realm of chasing your dreams, being a mom is never one that is on the approved list. If your dream is to be a mom, then this is just not good enough. Have you heard this said or at least implied?
There are a few reasons this is not an approved dream. Being a mom is seen as common. It is not something that is going to make you known or wealthy. No one ever sees or celebrates the acts of heroism that you do every day. I don’t think there is any mom who gets energized or inspired from needing to do the dishes. There are so many hidden things you do every day that are nurturing your kids and causing them to flourish. Being a mom to your kids is something only you can do.
Reconciling Mom and Career
My passion and my driving force is to be the best mom to my kids. That is the number one dream I am chasing. My career and how I make money is what gives me the resources I need to be chasing my dream.
Yes, let’s turn the popular idea upside down. Does your happiness and creating the life you love really depend on a career that you are passionate about? This idea is exciting and inspiring, but, let’s say it again, passion doesn’t always pay the bills. If you are doing something that you are already passionate about, then rock on mom.
But for the rest of us, let’s bring some balance to the force. Being a mom and working from home don’t need to be in opposition with each other. You can do both. And be successful as a mom and momtrepreneur.
Let me add this. Although, I want to change the idea that in order to be happy with your life you must always be passionate about your career. You should still be content with what you decide to do every day. If you are dreading waking up because you will need to do tasks you hate, then this needs to change. That is the best part because you define success on your own terms, and you can change this.
If you aren’t building a business around your passion or chasing your dream, how do you decide what to build a business around? The Money Saving Mom by Crystal Paine, sums it up well. In her book, she says, “Your ideal business will be a combinations of skills, talents, passion and knowledge.” I am going to give you my application of this list in order of importance (and make a slight change).
1. Skills
This is first because you can’t build a business around a skill you don’t possess. So what are you good at?
If you need help figuring out your skills, take a look at this post Part Time Work From Home Job (Part 2): Start A Virtual Assistant Business. It will give you a step-by-step guide to figure out your skills.
2. Knowledge
This goes hand-in-hand with the first one. What knowledge do you possess that will add value to your business?
3. Talents
You are a gifted and talented mom. What talents do you have that will enhance your business? That when combined with your skills and knowledge, they will make you an unstoppable force.
4. Interest
I am changing this from passion because sometimes passion doesn’t always pay the bills. But your interests may. What sparks your curiosity? Is there something that you can do for hours at a time? You want to build your business around something that you find interesting. Trust me you don’t want to dread working every morning. So don’t take on something that you don’t find interesting.
Conclusion
This post most definitely explores outside of the box. I hope you are asking yourself, what does it actually mean to be chasing your dream? Your dream don’t need to center on a career. Being a mom can be the greatest passion of your life. And your career and how you make money are the resources to fuel your dream.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
FAQ: Chasing Your Dream
Q: Why is being a mom is not considered a “good enough” dream by conventional standards?
A: In the realm of chasing dreams, being a mom is often not considered an approved dream because it is seen as common and does not bring fame or wealth. The everyday acts of nurturing and raising children are not celebrated or recognized as heroic or dream-worthy by societal standards.
Q: How do you reconcile the roles of being a mom and pursuing a career?
A: Being a mom and pursuing a career do not need to be in opposition. Both roles can coexist and that a mom can be successful in both areas. The key is to bring balance and redefine success on one’s own terms.
Q: What are the four components to consider when building a business?
A: The four components are:
- Skills: Identify what you are good at.
- Knowledge: Determine the knowledge you possess that adds value.
- Talents: Recognize your unique talents that can enhance your business.
- Interest: Focus on what sparks your curiosity and interest, rather than just passion.
Q: What is the difference between passion and interest?
A: The difference between passion and interest is sometimes passion alone does not pay the bills. Interests, on the other hand, can spark curiosity and provide a sustainable source of motivation and satisfaction in the long term, without the potential burnout associated with passion-driven pursuits.
Q: What is the relationship between happiness and career?
A: Happiness and creating a fulfilling life should not solely depend on a career that you are passionate about. While it is great if you can align your passion with your career, it is also important to be content with your daily tasks and find balance between personal and professional life.
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