Look back over your life. What have you consistently done well? What have you loved to do? Stand at the intersection of your affections and successes and find your uniqueness. ~from Max Lucado’s Cure for the Common Life: Living in Your Sweet Spot
Can you identify the place where your past successes and deep feelings of satisfaction intersect? According to Lucado, that’s your sweet spot. It’s the thing I’ve called our fire. What I like about Lucado’s explanation is that he tells us how to find it– how to identify something that’s already there.
A while back, my husband asked, “What have you done that you are most proud of?” At that time I wasn’t quite sure where I was headed, even though I was the co-owner of a boutique marketing and PR company that had a very successful and lucrative account. But internally, I was struggling with a deep feeling of dissatisfaction. Something was off. But what?
I said without blinking, “Getting those essays published in Skirt.” In a split second, I had identified a place where my success intersected with my affection. It took years to learn how to (and make a decision to) incorporate my sweet spot into my everyday life. It’s an ongoing process, and like my career, my book, and my new, somewhat disorganized house, it’s a work-in-progress.
Can you identify your sweet spot?
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I think of a few things that I am proud of….teaching school, coaching foottball and basketball at the high school level, keeping active and fit.
I think that I am most proud of my work in Rotary and all the wonderful things we do in our community and in places around the world. I started a Rotary Happy Feet program 5 years ago and working with the local schools to identify needy children, we give free shoes to all those children on a Saturday morning in October. The looks on the faces of the children, the parents and especially all the other Rotarians are just wonderful.
I am also very proud of the wonderful young folks that Rotary sends aboad for a year as an Ambassadorial Scholar, to live, study and volunteer their services. I work with the College of Charleston to find candidates and then sponsor them and if they are selected by our Rotary District, I act as their personal Sponsor Counselor to get them ready for their year and to support them from home while they are there. These are amazing young people who will make a difference in our world, it is really wonderful to work with them.
Happiness and satisfaction is being able to help others and that gives me the most joy.
Your sweet spot is serving others, and the best part is… the joy you give to others is returned to you!
In 2000 I was trying to determine what life would hold next for me. A business friend and former HR professional told me of an exercise similar to Lucado’s direction.
I was told to make a list of all the accomplishments in my life of which I was most proud. I was then told to write down how each made me feel, and why and what skills I used to make each happen…then I was instructed to edit all those skills into one list, and voila, I’d have exactly the sweet spot for career direction…which is how I decided to focus on PR.
In sailing (which I did for years when I was in a different relationship), the sweet spot is described as the position of the wind and sails that make maximum use of the wind, causing the boat to move forward with the least amount of drag and greatest speed.
Congratulations on finding your sweet spot. May you stay in it always!
Love the sailing analogy. That’s how it feels when I’m working in my sweet spot. Staying in it can be the challenge!
Or as the jazz musicians say, keep it in the groove! We’re cheering you on!
Thank you, Cheryl! I feel the good vibes.
The thing that I most proud of is the people that I call true friends in life. We are stuck with the family that God gave us, unless we meet someone and grow our own Clan. I mean, they say that you can count on one hand the number of real friends that you have in your life. Forget Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter…I am very blessed to have some real diamonds in my life. You know who you are!
My sweet spot that kind of ties my whole life together is my ability to bring people together for mutual benefit. Whether that be in my day-to-day business or just helping a mate out with a recommendation. I sleep well at night knowing that I get true satisfaction by being able to bring like-minded together for mutual benefit. Givers always gain in life and I sure am a giver!
ABBII
That is a gift indeed.. one you can use in many different ways. The job doesn’t matter as long as you are able to use the gift, I think!
Wow, what an interesting and probing question. I am sitting here wading through all of the failures in my life trying to find that “sweet spot”. I guess it is true when it is said that we are our own worse critic. It is so easy to find the negative and over look the positive, even in our own lives. Please tell me that I am not the only one that struggles with that?
I am turning 50 this year and just the thought of that event makes it a bittersweet moment. I am always thankful for life and the fact that I am in relatively good health. When I turned 40 it hit me pretty hard so I can only imagine what 50 is going to be like. Maybe my wife will shoot me with a tranquilizer dart and I will coast through the experience not knowing it happened. LOL….
A 50th birthday party where you are the target and the guests get a tranquilizer dart at the door. That could be interesting!
And, no, I don’t think you’re the only one who struggles with negativity and focuses on failures. I know I do from time to time. I think I’ve realized that part of my “sweet spot” is telling stories that may help someone shift their perspective.
Many times the things we loved to do as children points to our sweet spot.
I think life gives us many sweet spots, some that stick with us our whole lives, and others that are seasonal. No matter how hard I try to make myself a left-brainer, though, my sweet spots are all right-brained. I wish I had surrendered to that in my twenties instead of my forties, but I am much better at it now than I ever could’ve been then.
Sometimes I wonder if my left-brain tendencies come from all those years working in news. Left-brain tendencies serve a purpose and benefit the whole. I just notice that mine usually emerge under stress!
I’d say I have a couple of sweet spots. First is raising two beautiful children, and the second is different phases of my writing that have brought great satisfaction. And that my children get to be a part of that writing journey, supporting and helping along the way, makes it all even sweeter.
Being a mother is so satisfying to me. The fact that I get to raise my sons and write is such a blessing. I struggle with balance, but only because I have so much of a good thing. It’s a good problem to have, right?
Whew- thanks for reminding me that the “sweet spot” is important. As soon as I read your question, I knew exactly where mine was. On stage playing the piano for a bunch of amazing singers.
Wow. You’ve put me right where I need to focus my energy again.
Thanks
xoxo
We all love to be entertained and dazzled by Becca’s song.