How can I do what I love and still live comfortably in the short term?

[Bruce Achterberg]

I've read How to Earn Your First Love Dollar and What If You Have Many Different Interests and Cannot Commit to Any of Them?. I completely get that, have been applying it indirectly for the last 2 years, and have recently made a push to more directly apply it since I read those posts.

I understand that if you can't fully define what you love, some exploration is required. My current solution covers that. What my current solution doesn't cover is the short term. While I am exploring, creating, and improving my mastery, how do I make ends meet?

While Steve was able to leverage his skill on the side when he was broke, my skills are largely unremarkable (this isn't true, but finding people who can recognise the value of my skills seems difficult; perhaps that's a limiting belief, but I still see no reasonable way forward there. I work best in environments where I can have a more direct impact). The only solution I can reasonably see is me going out and getting a job. I have some experience with computers, and my self awareness is a powerful asset, but I have no desire to go out and apply those in a way that "makes money," and doing what I love produces me very little income in the short term.

I guess I'm saying, "I would like someone who has already achieved this alignment to guide me towards it and the state of being required."

But I'm not sure what that state of being is. I'm already doing what I love to a reasonable degree and can fully see how that can eventually be useful to people as I gain more clarity about what I'm specifically good at and what I enjoy most, but for the moment, I see that it's going to be a good while before there is any payoff. (Although perhaps that belief is inaccurate.)

What do I do in the meantime?

Even when Steve was broke, he had skills to leverage. Skills that are effective within the job paradigm. I have skills that I can leverage, but they are not recognised within the job paradigm. E.g. While I can probably create better plans than most people, being able to connect to the people who needs these plans isn't easy without some sort of qualifications. Environments that recognise talent and connect that to a role or outcome instead of using humans as cheaper versions of machines to do drone work are difficult to find (at least, I've no idea where to find them).

And besides, that is more of the "get money so I can then do what I want on the side" thinking. I don't want to go work for something. What I really want to do is do my own work, but right now, unless I want to work in jobs I absolutely don't like, I see no way for me to reasonably support myself in the short term doing what I love. I can absolutely see how to do it in the long term, but the short term isn't working for me.

How can I take care of the short term, while still doing what I love, without having to shelve it as a side project or do diluted versions of what I love, again, turning "what I love" into a side project?

If I could only make this connection between "exploring what you love, doing what you love and expanding it" and "being able to sustainably do what you love so that you can keep doing it and expand it", I see that the rest would be easy (note how that statement might be telling about my mindset). I *know* that you will become good at what you practice, and that if you do what you love you will get better at it, blah blah blah, but how do I take that and apply it in a way that I get compensated for my efforts such that I can keep doing, and thus, expand them.

Is there some solution I'm not seeing?

Is it something that I do see, but I need to adopt a different way to look at it before I can align with it and walk that path with no resistance?

Is there some sort of limiting aspect in my thinking that is causing me to think about this the wrong way to begin with?

I'm looking for the same sort of "woah" shift you get from reading

I'm not sure if I'm comfortable going the "scrape by" route that Steve describes in What I Learned From Going Bankrupt in My 20s That Proves to Be Immensely Valuable in My 30s since my best work comes from when I'm comfortable and relatively positive (at least, that's what I currently believe, but it seems to be true in my experience... perhaps it's only a partial truth). Whenever I go that route, I find I spend most of my time "dealing with" scraping by and the side effects of that instead of creating, and I'm mindful of not putting myself in that situation because I know what it does to my effectiveness (at least, I think I do; I'm fully open to questioning my assumptions, but committing to a path just to see how accurate it is--which may be difficult to find out in the first place--is time consuming; I'm looking for a more elegant solution.)

Someone from the outside looking in, please help.

[Angela]

Well, you could adjust your idea of what "living comfortably" means.

[Bruce Achterberg]

Oh and I'm willing to answer any questions you may have if someone would like clarification on anything I wrote. I understand how difficult it can be to offer decent advice when people are vague.

I was intentionally general, though, since this is more of a mindset thing and less about specifics. Someone will have the perspective that I don't have and be able to identify common patterns in what I say and how it relates to certain mindsets and beliefs. It's just that I can't (or I wouldn't be here, heh).

It's vexing to understand how this all works, but not know what the solution is. I've already brought more truth and power (a concept from Steve's book) into the equation, but what I really need is more love, it seems. (Incidentally, I had an opportunity for that, but it came in a package that seemed so unlikely to be helpful--and very taxing on my finances--I deemed it to be probably ineffective. Perhaps the connections would have been useful, but that's a lose/win situation. For me, it's win/win or no deal... or at least, as close to that as I can get.)

[Bruce Achterberg]

Originally Posted by Angela

Well, you could adjust your idea of what "living comfortably" means.

My definition of living comfortably:

* Being able to feed yourself in a way that is congruent with you (i.e. vegan)
* Being able to purchase things that positively augment your life

Within my current situation I live comfortably enough, but my situation is far from ideal (if I really kick in my standards, it's downright unacceptable and extremely hindering my effectiveness). The catch 22 is that to get out of it, I need resources, and to get resources, I need to (ideally) do what I love, but doing what I love will only pay off in the long term. (But perhaps that's part of my issue--perhaps if it doesn't pay off now, while the message may be good, the medium isn't useful to me. But that seems a little too restrictive to be useful.)

[Bruce Achterberg]

Since my first post was super-long, I'll super-summarise it:

While I'm doing what I love, I get no money from it. Any time spent getting money means I'm not doing what I love. Doing what I love will probably make money after I've explored it enough and developed a bit more skill (or at least, an awareness of the very core of what I love is), but it will take a while before that will happen (or so I believe; perhaps that's an inaccurate belief). Making money isn't the goal, but without money I remain in my current situation (or perhaps a park bench if I continue to get no money... yes, I'm exaggerating to make a point, heh).

How do I bridge the two (i.e. money + what I love) when what I love doesn't pay off at all (or much) in the short term (at least, it seems like it won't)? Is that what I even need to do? Is there a whole other way of looking at this that I'm missing? Does the real solution come in a seemingly non-ideal package, but is actually really great and I've just been missing it because of my inaccurate beliefs about it?

[Angela]

It sounds like you want to do what you love and keep living the way you're living -- two conflicting desires. What I'm suggesting is that you consider moving out of what you are comfortable with now -- do something that is a little beyond what you're comfortable with (and it sounds like you are a little bit high-maintenance, in that you want what you want they way you want it and when you want it -- did you ever see "When Harry Met Sally"?).

If you'd like to make an extraordinary difference in how your life is going, why try making an extraordinary leap in what you're comfortable with? Why not start with brainstorming, loosen up your brain, and see what comes up? You could:

-- get a grant
-- request donations
-- build a shack in the forest and grow your own food
-- rob a bank and get a way with it
-- rob a bank and get caught (the government will provide you with food and shelter!)
-- move in with a family member who will support you
-- get a sugar mama
-- get paid for doing what you love
-- get paid for doing something that you like a lot
--- get paid for doing something in which you learn a skill that will come in handy in doing what you love
-- find a sponsor
-- squat
-- wander
-- get rid of most of your belongings, car, apartment and start fresh
-- what else?

If you find yourself finding reasons why any or all of these possibilities are unreasonable or unworkable, you're not in brainstorming, mind-loosening mode, you're in stay-stuck mode.

What would be possible?

[Bruce Achterberg]

Originally Posted by Angela

What would be possible?

A good question.

What is possible? Further education, but that would take time, and again, detract from doing what I love, which detracts from my ability to expand there (since I need to do it, explore it, and develop further skill in that area before people will care to give me compensation for it).

With this thread I'm looking for a more elegant solution, akin to Steve's "do what you love, even if it makes you squat" (which I'm doing! It's making me squat, heh, but that's fine) idea. Also akin to Marcus Buckingham's material on strengths and talents, and how it blows practically everything else in that field that tries to talk about skills, talents, and personality out of the water because it hits on actual mechanics.

It blows my mind how there is just zero content when it comes to being able to do what you love and being able to expand it. There's huge support for being able to do what you don't love (i.e. a job) and being able to expand it, and plenty of material that covers doing what you love and expanding it but not being able to reasonably keep doing it (since when you're broke, eventually you run out of food--realistically speaking--which limits your ability to keep doing what you love. Radical changes are nice, but hmmm, they seem non-ideal in the long run. Perhaps I'm wrong. People who've made radical changes and that have provided huge leaps in effectiveness, please share your story.)

[Angela]

Bruce, you're resisting what I'm saying pretty hard. Wasn't it you who recently talked about how beneficial games have been in your life, and how we should let go of negative thought patterns?

You are looking for an external source ("content") for achieving this aim of living comfortably while doing what you love. What I am suggesting is that you consider that you yourself can be the source of that content -- that playing games is one of the things you do best, right? Why not play the game of letting go of what you think the solution is going to look like, and take on generating something entirely new and inspiring?

[Bruce Achterberg]

Oh and Angela, I appreciate what you're trying to do here.

Perhaps as you suggest it's my entire way of looking at this that needs to change, not just making what I'd call "micro" changes within a situation (when you really need to make "macro" changes to the system itself).

If considering different perspectives is helpful, I'm all for it. I know it can be very enlightening (it's just difficult to escape your own perspective; a case of "hiding in plain sight, it defy description". Hence the usefulness of other people, particularly people who have a perspective that has proven highly effective, consistently, holistically).

Postscript

And yes, this is definitely an area where I am weak, relatively speaking. My own perspective escapes me. Practically everything is is workable, largely because it doesn't have constraints such as time and money tied onto it. I swear, if the activity strengthens me, I'll share the solution to this if only because nobody else has done it in a "yep, this solution is all you need" way, kind of like Steve's book will probably be to navigating consciousness.

[Angela]

p.s. here's another one for the brainstorm list: "shop and drop" -- looks like chopsaw has found a way to accomplish an aim similar to yours!

[Michelle]

Hey Bruce,

I just want to say that I feel you. Hugs.

My way of handling this looks basically like this:

I surrendered myself completely to the mercy and goodwill of the universe. I gave up the struggle of trying to make money and stopped doing all work which didn't feel right inside. At this moment I make no money, but live more comfortably than I ever have and have all the time in the world for my spiritual and personal growth which I am confident will produce some beautiful fruits in the outside world with time.

The solution the Universe presented me with was a boyfriend (and now a husband) who is very settled in and passionate about his profession and who makes a good deal of money. He loves his work and he loves to share his abundance with me. At first I resisted taking anything from him, but after a while I realized I was refusing what gift the universe had dropped on my doorstep. So, I might ask - what are you not seeing or refusing to accept that the universe is trying to plop down on your doorstep? Or what feeling are you ignoring concerning which action to take on your own behalf? There most certainly is something.

For me the moment I dropped the guilt about accepting financial help and my limiting belief that the only real contribution to a relationship is financial everything started falling into place. The more I surrender and am open to receive the better my life gets, the less struggle it is, and all my material needs are met. In fact, I have no money and yet more than enough of what I need and want to live and I can spend all day meditating, reading, growing, praying, thinking, exploring and doing that what I love. Money will come in its own time - of that I have no doubt.

[Brutha]

First, I'm a student and don't earn the money I need to live at the moment so, I don't have the perspective of someone who earn money doing work he loves.

Trying to get a scholarship and entering university to be free from directly doing thing to make money might be something to think about for you. That the point of university. People who need to develop skills get to focus on developing them without spending there time earning money.

I know that you are into gaming strategy and that you play poker from time to time. While being a poker pro isn't really a productive profession you could consider making your daily bread via online poker.

If I remember right the other games that you play aren't ones that you can make money with.
If you play chess you could teach people chess strategy and make money that way but I doubt that you can make money teaching Street Fighter II strategy.
Otherwise I think teaching something theoretical and learning to focus on what a student can learn might be worthwhile for your development.

But to give your more suggestions, what do you actually love doing? In which areas are you better than 95% of the people around you?

[Bruce Achterberg]

Originally Posted by Angela

Why not play the game of letting go of what you think the solution is going to look like, and take on generating something entirely new and inspiring?

Indeed. I'm like a problem solving machine that doesn't quite know what the problem is.

Games are great because there is always a way to optimise something relative to your goal. There are also fixed rules. Once you know how the game world works, you can make some very clear decisions. You know what will work and what will not. You know what is effective and what it not.

I have zero idea of what is effective in life (really, in the scheme of things, my current knowledge is insignificant; I believe there's a level of operation outside of this current level of being, but it feels a bit far off. I have no idea how I could reach it). The search space is just too large. Sure, I could try lots of things, but that takes lots of time and sometimes resources.

So far most good decisions I've made I've been able to make by a combination of research and drawing on my experience and what I guess you could call my intuition (basically, my connection to life). I'm getting better at exercising all of these, but this is one area where I feel I need to step up and go beyond my current level of thinking.

What is that thinking, though? I look outside for answers because that's how my talents work--my activator talent theme causes me to think that doing and then optimisation is the path that leads to success. That's how I see the world, and it works. In this case, it's just a matter of finding people who have the result, so I can relate it to myself (which I'm good at doing; I'm able to do that myself easily), and then optimise my actions.

Originally Posted by Angela

p.s. here's another one for the brainstorm list: "shop and drop" -- looks like chopsaw has found a way to accomplish an aim similar to yours!

Interesting thread.

I cheated a little and got an intuitive read on it since I can't remember my thoughts about it when I read it, ha (my brain tends to strip specific thoughts down to essential concepts that are inherently difficult to express really quickly).

It seems chopsaw, the poster of that thread, is on his path. I do not feel like that is my path. Compartmentalisation is something that keeps coming up in my life. This is the second time (although it's probably been many more times, they just weren't very poignant), almost as if the universe is testing to see whether I'll dive in and learn a lesson, or hold my ground. Testing me, essentially. For now, I hold my ground. I feel my commitment will pay off, it's just a matter of being fully committed. What that entails, I'm not sure.

[seeker5]

Bruce, great question to ask! That's something that's been on my mind too - what can I do in the short term while working on what I love. Although, you state it as "live comfortably", I state it as "stay alive", how can I stay alive while I work on what I love to do?

I was looking at homeless shelters online last night to see if that would be a recourse, and it really hit me - hell no I don't want to do that. When I'm looking at cars to buy, I wonder how it'll be if I end up homeless and have to sleep in them. I really think that mindset is really bad to have though. So your question and the answers are interesting and very relevant to me.

I know that part of my appeal to start my MBA in a month (if I choose to do so) is that for two years, I won't have to be concerned about "staying alive", because I'll get a $60K loan to cover my expenses.

Originally Posted by Michele

The solution the Universe presented me with was a boyfriend (and now a husband) who is very settled in and passionate about his profession and who makes a good deal of money.

That's a problem for me (although I'm not the OP, I hope Bruce doesn't mind if I bring my own question since I really identified with his questions and his delima). I don't have such a person, and I'd hate to think I'll plan what to do in the short-term in the hope I find such a person that can support me financially.

Yet, when I look around, that seems to be what a lot of people have done - from Steve who had Erin to support him while he spent those 4-5 months writing his first full-venture shareware game after the bankruptcy, to the novelist Paul Anderson whose wife took a full time job to let Paul write for several years before he made it big, to other people whose boyfriend/husband financially support them while they go full out for what they want. So I guess I'd love to have examples from people who didn't have a supporting loved-one to help them. Not that it take away from those who have supporting loved one to financially help them, it just doesn't apply in my case.

[Angela]

Oh, boy, Bruce. You are so stubborn. I feel like you're so much in "broadcast" that you can't hear what I'm saying. I'm not feeling heard.

[Michelle]

Originally Posted by seeker5

That's a problem for me (although I'm not the OP, I hope Bruce doesn't mind if I bring my own question since I really identified with his questions and his delima). I don't have such a person, and I'd hate to think I'll plan what to do in the short-term in the hope I find such a person that can support me financially.

In financial terms and in terms of living my purpose I don't see my husband as a person who can support me. I see him as a solution to my material needs at this point in time. You don't need to look for a person, you need to be open to a solution.

[Bruce Achterberg]

Originally Posted by Michelle

Hey Bruce,

I just want to say that I feel you. Hugs.

My way of handling this looks basically like this:

[...]

Heh, it's interesting. Both Angela and yourself have a very different energy to what I'm used to. Usually I draw upon very male, masculine energy for assistance in personal development (not intentionally, it just seems to happen), but judging by your post, Michelle, perhaps this (and is strangely congruent with another theme that's been cropping up... one I'm still coming to terms with and not quite sure how to proceed). It feels... hmmm, it's hard to describe. I think I'm trying to conceptualise a feeling thing, which isn't too effective here.

It seems that this issue is a manifestation of a sort of energy... resistance. I'm not sure what it is, but I seem to be resisting a part of reality. The more I remove the "doer" (i.e. what I perceive to be myself) and... well, explaining the alternative to that is tricky, but from what you wrote your post about your recent experiences, I think you'll understand. This is not the realm of logic anymore, Toto.

For years my main intuitive message was to "let it all go", but doing that has never been able, or at least willing, to do. It would indeed mean a way of being that is profoundly different to how I interact now. It would mean perhaps make me more more complete, and less fragmented, since there is a part of myself that I have resisted for years. I did and do that because I fear exposing this part of myself.

Thank you. This is proving very helpful.
(And that is a general broadcast to you all, collectively. Or more so to the energy you represent.)

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by Michelle

In financial terms and in terms of living my purpose I don't see my husband as a person who can support me. I see him as a solution to my material needs at this point in time. You don't need to look for a person, you need to be open to a solution.

Ah ok, gotcha. So you're saying focus on living your purpose, and help will appear, whether that be a loved one, or some other manner.

[Michelle]

I might also add, Bruce, that the Universe is only going to communicate one or two steps you need to take at a time and sometimes that step involves chilling out and waiting. I have the feeling you're a bit impatient.

It may be worth asking yourself which small step are you ignoring or pushing aside as insignificant right now? Complete that, and you'll surely get the feeling for the next, and the next and the next.

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

Did y'all happen to see this post:

What I Learned From Going Bankrupt in My 20s That Proves to Be Immensely Valuable in

I'm beginning to think that while we (yeah, I do this too, BIG TIME) are thinking, opportunities are coming at us from every direction, but we're too immersed in trying to figure it out to even see them -- much less take them and run.

I think when you stop trying to figure it all out and just go with the flow, the "how" will become apparent. For those of us who like neat little explanations and rules to follow and an assured outcome for a specific course of action it's freakin' scary.

So my advice is: let go and get out of your head (said to myself as well).

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

Great posts while I was writing mine. I needed all of that advice as well so thank you!

[Bruce Achterberg]

Originally Posted by Angela

Oh, boy, Bruce. You are so stubborn. I feel like you're so much in "broadcast" that you can't hear what I'm saying. I'm not feeling heard.

I like to see it not so much as stubbornness, but specificness. More than most, I know what I want. Perhaps I can't express it, but my ability to intuitively gauge it has been a powerful compass for me.

What you're saying is helpful, just perhaps not in the way you expect it to be.

This seems to be to do more with energy than logic and thinking. Logic and thinking seem to be the wall that I'm hitting into. I see the person that I would have to become to make this change, and honestly, it scares me. But fear aside, it makes me wonder, "what person would I have to become to embrace this new energy?"

I know the answer to that, but feel I might need some support from someone, or something. I'm not sure if I can do it alone, which interestingly, may not be a bad thing since seeking help is exactly the type of thing I'd usually resist.

[Michelle]

No one is telling you you have to become that person overnight. Why not take a baby step in the direction of becoming that person? And then another baby step, and another?

Believe me, those baby steps add up and soon you will be on another level without having raped or forced yourself into something ... patience :-), breathe ...


Edit: I'd be interested in hearing more about that energy you're talking about. What energy exactly do you feel with Angela and I?

[Bruce Achterberg]

Originally Posted by seeker5

Bruce, great question to ask! That's something that's been on my mind too - what can I do in the short term while working on what I love. Although, you state it as "live comfortably", I state it as "stay alive", how can I stay alive while I work on what I love to do?

I was looking at homeless shelters online last night to see if that would be a recourse, and it really hit me - hell no I don't want to do that. When I'm looking at cars to buy, I wonder how it'll be if I end up homeless and have to sleep in them. I really think that mindset is really bad to have though. So your question and the answers are interesting and very relevant to me.

Hahaha, I laughed out loud when I read that. "Hell no" indeed.

The reason I said "live comfortably" as opposed to "staying alive" is that I wanted to avoid people saying, "you can stay alive by [insert extreme, unreasonable thing here]." I tend to try to use very specific word choice to prevent expended energy from me having to clarify things, but it seems to never work as well as I'd like it to, heh. Too much of a control strategy, I believe. Better to be authentic (although me being authentic--fully authentic--isn't something I'm sure I can do... I try my best, but there's a side--that I've mentioned in my above posts--that I'm yet to show. Glimpses, maybe, but not fully unrestrained).

I think the answer to this may have something to do a certain type of person. Interestingly, this seems to have something to do with personality types--talent--but it seems to go even deeper and be more generalised, as if energy is a core component. Now that I've seen a bit of this other perspective, I'm starting to get an idea of what's at play. And I've never seen any coverage of this, at least, from this particular perspective.

But the real solution seems to be not of the mind, and inherently hard to pin down. It's satisfying to find something as potent and challenging as this.

[Angela]

Hellooooo?!? What do you think I've been talking about?

Bruce, take a look back through your posts here, and see how many questions you've asked, or how often you've checked out what people were saying to make sure you heard it the way they want to be heard. You're saying you're not sure if you can do it alone, but your style of communication is striking me as totally unengaged. That's what I mean by being in broadcast mode. Do you feel engaged? Do you feel receptive? Do you think that if an elegant solution presented itself to you but it arrives in more of an "energy" mode than "logic and thinking" you will be able to recognize it?

You know, one thing about trying on ways of being -- ways that scare you -- is that you're not getting married to them; you're just trying them on for size. Who knows what might be possible if you were to let go of "thinking and logic" just for a short period and try on another perspective? You seem so ripe to try on a new perspective, another approach to your life, why let fear get in your way when there's so much at stake?

And by the way, you know I adore you. I am up to interrupting your pattern here (one that you invited interruption in ), and thereby interrupting my own.

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by Bruce Achterberg

I know the answer to that, but feel I might need some support from someone, or something. I'm not sure if I can do it alone, which interestingly, may not be a bad thing since seeking help is exactly the type of thing I'd usually resist.

Hah! That's how I've felt too. That I can't do it alone, that I need someone to help me out, and yet, asking for help is so incredibly hard for me. Not for advice, I can easily do that (as you can see with all my posts and thread), but asking for help beyond advice is soooo hard for me to do, so it's felt like a chicken and egg thing - I need help, but I can't ask for it.

I think I've pinpoint why I've had that difficulty - it goes back to a very deep belief from childhood I've very recently uncovered that "I am deficient", and "I am unlovable" that I'm currently working with Angela through coaching. So perhaps once I've replaced those very deep huge deep core belief, then maybe I'll stop feeling like I need someone to help me by my side in order to get my life going, and at the same time I'll also be able to start asking for help without feeling so much incredible internal resistance and blockage .

Originally Posted by Bruce Achterberg

Hahaha, I laughed out loud when I read that. "Hell no" indeed.

Hehe

The reason I said "live comfortably" as opposed to "staying alive" is that I wanted to avoid people saying, "you can stay alive by [insert extreme, unreasonable thing here]." I tend to try to use very specific word choice to prevent expended energy from me having to clarify things, but it seems to never work as well as I'd like it to, heh.

Ahhh, ok, that make sense. That's true I guess for me, I could "stay alive" by getting any job, going back to my old job, getting a job at a retail store like I've done before, etc. But I now refuse to do that - I refuse to slave away, giving up my soul. So in truth it is more about "staying alive", but since I refuse now to get a job I hate, a job I don't love, then I've blocked those off, so it's not an option for now.

As for me I guess the words "staying comfortable" I get the image of being in a plush couch . But now I get your meaning, which is similar to mine.

[Bruce Achterberg]

Originally Posted by Michelle

I might also add, Bruce, that the Universe is only going to communicate one or two steps you need to take at a time and sometimes that step involves chilling out and waiting. I have the feeling you're a bit impatient.

I don't want to dwell too much on the specifics of my talents, since it will disrupt the thread, but I'll mention this because it might help people better understand what they might label as... well, read on and you'll understand.

My impatience stems from my activator talent theme, and heh, only taking two steps at a time is inherently unnatural to me. My challenge is about taking something that is very vague and making that approach into a plan that I can apply, which appeases my strategic talent (which is my #1 talent theme).

That's ok. I can do that easily enough.

These traits are strengths. It's more productive within the realm of personality to look at what a person has rather than what they don't have (e.g. patience). Paradoxically, I'm one of the more patient people you will meet, but I crave results more intensely than most. Interesting, no? That's the beauty of talents: they can conflict, but still be in harmony, because they don't exist in isolation, but rather weave together to create something unique.

I feel intuitively drawn to posting this link for you:
Welcome to The Marcus Buckingham Company ®

This one just seems appropriate:
YouTube - Go Put Your Strengths To Work - Marcus Buckingham

Although perhaps this one will resonate with you more:
Trombone Player Wanted Trailer | Marcus Buckingham | Premiere Motivational Speakers Bureau

[The Large Dude Scam]

If you move to India you can live on $85/month. You don't need to earn a very huge sum to cover your living costs then, doing what you love.

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by Bruce Achterberg

My impatience stems from my activator talent theme, and heh, only taking two steps at a time is inherently unnatural to me. My challenge is about taking something that is very vague and making that approach into a plan that I can apply, which appeases my strategic talent (which is my #1 talent theme).

Oh man, both the activator and strategic together in one person..! So you have the pull to really think deeply and see where each path goes - asking what if on all the paths and having a desire to see far into the future what your current action will lead to.....and at the very same time, you have a very strong pull to just get started right now no matter what just get started! Right? Seems like two conflicting desires?

[Bruce Achterberg]

Originally Posted by Michelle

I'd be interested in hearing more about that energy you're talking about. What energy exactly do you feel with Angela and I?

It's feminine.

Only women seem to be able to draw upon this type of energy as potently as they do. It has a lightness to it that I never anywhere else in that particular form.

Masculine energy is very assertive and dominant, but this energy is entirely different. While a masculine energy would take control of something, this energy dissolves, sort of including everything, but removing what isn't necessary but in a... peaceful way.

I sense it more from you than Angela. Angela seems to be taking me on with a more masculine energy. In hindsight, both of your posts were needed. The collective message from this thread is what's most enlightening.