Can I overcome my habits and leap outside my 55 years of experience and set of ideas?

I love the idea of learning something new and applying my strengths and contacts to helping that new issue, idea or vision meet with the power that combination might bring and energize it to fly. Would I take that chance? Would you?

5 months ago Asked by lorisilverberg 2 from United States

Lori,

Absolutely! You are the person who has control! I’m not sure what you’re trying to get into, but I think that if you have an idea, you should pursue it. Do some planning, but don’t get lost in the planning stage forever. Take the leap! It’s a big leap, but you can do it. If you don’t, who will?

I’d like to recommend a couple videos that I recently watched that might help give you some inspiration:

What if money was no object? By Alan Watts… This is a great quick video that helps give a little extra push to following your passion. If you’re at a point in your life where money is an issue to consider, this helps a lot. If you’re lucky enough where money is no issue, it’s still a good video :–).
The greatest speech ever made By Charlie Chaplin… This is a great visual mash-up with Charlie Chaplin’s speech from the Great Dictator in the background. If you’re crazy about democracy, civic engagement, and generally making the world a better place (like me and I’m sure many others in this community), you’ll like this video!

I’m very passionate about (and very busy with) civic engagement and engaging people to be involved and have a voice in their communities. I recently started a social enterprise focused on addressing, what I believe is, the very serious social challenge of maintaining/increasing civic engagement in a world increasingly run by the wealthiest and the loudest with a population that at times seems to becoming both more irate and more placid with the status quo. As a technology strategist, I believe we can utilize technology for good in this space, and our project is all about doing just that. But I digress…

I won’t lie – it’s a bit intimidating to step away from a comfortable career and a comfortable salary. And when I think about the personal investment I’ve made into this project, it’s even more of an uncomfortable feeling. However, I often am so focused on my work (and truly enjoy it) that when this anxiety arises, I can manage it effectively. I think you will be able to as well.

I obviously hope and think that our project will work, but I accept the possibility that it might not… But even if it fails, this is the happiest, most meaningful, and most fulfilling work I’ve ever done. And I hope that you can have this experience, too. I really do believe our future as a species depends on all of us doing work that we find both personally fulfilling as well as socially beneficial.

Take the chance and keep us all updated! Good luck!

– Jesse Chen

Founder of American Civix Technologies, L3C

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I believe you should take the chance. I too have recently faced the same at 53 years. Curious all my life with an 'embarassment of riches' in education and life experience. However, it wasn't until the last two years that I ever asked who I was; I just stumbled into things and succeeded. Until that formula didn't work and I couldn't charm my way into the next stage of my life. For all my 'education and experience' I was frightened, anxious and didn't know where to begin.

It has taken my these last two years to discover who I was and it started with me taking stock of who I was and what I like. Only now can I answer, "What do you want to do?". Its your journey, your path perhaps you are doing exactly what you should be doing 'right now'. Always remember "Impermenance- It changes continuously, becomes something or the other from moment to moment." (www.hinduwebsite.com)

Can I overcome my habits and leap outside my 55 years of experience and set of ideas?

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