Who are you – really?

Quote of the day: “If you’re able to be yourself, then you have no competition. All you have to do is get closer and closer to that essence. – Barbara Cook

Glowing Dahlia

I’ve been reading Do More Great Work by Michael Bungay Stanier.  In one of the essays in the book, Penelope Trunk says this about Great Work: “So really, doing Great Work is about knowing who you are and what you want. And here’s the crux of the matter: We can never know that for sure. You’ll never know everything about who you are, and you’ll never be able to completely describe what you want.  But we can’t wait forever. So we have to guess and take the plunge. Stepping forward to do more Great Work is in fact about a leap of faith that we take because the alternatives are so disappointing.”

Over the past few months, I feel like I’m getting to know myself all over again and I’m not who I thought I was.  Each day as the distance from my former corporate job grows, I find parts of myself that have been asleep for years waking up.  It is such a joy to be rediscovering what brings me joy and choosing on a daily basis what I get to do next.

As audacious and crazy as starting my own photography business sounded a few months ago, I’m so glad that I listened to the yearnings of my heart instead of to the rational, critical, “not enough” voice in my head.  In addition to working on my photography business, I’ve decided to start volunteering more.  My first volunteer commitment is with Habitat for Humanity’s Neighborhood Family Partners Program.  I also plan to work as site host at one or more build sites soon. This, for me, is part of my Great Work.

I made a list today (from one of the exercises in Do More Great Work) of who I am at my best.  Here’s my list:

1.  Creator of visual things (color, beauty, words, light, shape)

2.  Wholistic thinker

3.  Vulnerable, honest, and open

4.  Stretching, challenged, rapidly learning

5.  Working independently (control over my work and my time)

6.  Using rapid, iterative learning

7.  Working for good

8.  Passionate

9.  Like variety, change, and adventure

10. Encouraging others to fulfill their potential (working to fulfill my potential)

Who are you at your best?

Here are some photos I made this week:

Pink Dahlia Petals Have Rhythm

We should all be this cheerful!

Rose Hips

Children at Fountain Statue

Monarch Butterfly

Soft Yellow Dahlia