Getting back on the highway with Lea Curtes-Swenson
Finding Security in Uncertain Times
You know that I’ve made it my business to pry into the lives of several successful On-Ramp moms, just to bring you their inspiring stories. But what you may not know is that when I’m not interviewing amazing women, I am fast becoming a social media addict.
In between all the time spent blogging, friending, linking, Digging, tweeting, and figuring out what de.licio.us means, I came across a site called YourOnRamp.com. Naturally, I was curious.
At first glance, the site seems to be completely dedicated to On-Rampers – with up-to-date job postings and scores of other resources. But before I could really dive in, I got caught up in a blog post, “The Ultimate Security: Doing What You Love,” by Tama J. Kieves, a guest blogger.
As I read it, I thought about the nose-diving economy, and how so many families are finding themselves in unexpectedly insecure situations. Whether you’re going back to work out of necessity or desire, you may find something of value in a few nuggets that jumped out at me:
• "The shell must break before the bird can fly." Kieves chose a perfectly optimistic Alfred Lord Tennyson quote for our times. If we step back for a moment and consider this more global perspective, it reminds us that though there are many “broken” things in the world today, through hard work, imagination and cooperation we will see improvement.
• “You have exponential resources beyond your habitual mind.” Kieves discusses how many of us are sleepwalking through our lives, sacrificing our dreams to earn a living. She encourages us to “turn our eyes away from the crumbling wreckage” of what’s happening now, and seize this opportunity to make a change.
• “… Doing what you love changes your brain chemistry, your energy levels, and your entire outlook on life …” I love this point she’s making – that if you follow your nose toward the things that make you feel alive, your renewed self-confidence can help you take risks or identify opportunities that you otherwise wouldn’t go near.
• “In fear [mode], you spend more money, choose small and tawdry, and do things you realize later were shortsighted. You’re impulsive and reactive instead of big-hearted, sweet-brained, conscious and selective.” I’ve seen this proven true throughout my own life, so it resonated with me. Perhaps by being aware of this tendency, we can avoid making snap decisions that don’t ultimately help us. Take a breath, step back, and consider all your options.
Next time, I’ll take a closer look at YourOnRamp.com, and point you toward its distinct advantages and resources.
Interested in becoming a Get Your Genius Resident Genius?Click here to contact us and please include your bio, a link to your website and a few sentences why you feel working mothers can’t live without your expertise.