The Book That's Unexpectedly Changing Everything Right Now
We never quite know what might be the thing that sets in motion the big, beautiful changes in our lives, do we? Sometimes it’s a change we’ve craved. Other times it’s a change we’ve felt coming for months or years even. And sometimes it comes seemingly out of the blue.
Me? I seem to always be craving some kind of change, shift, or growth. My guess is you know the feeling. So, two weeks ago when I heard a podcast that lit my soul on fire, I started looking and listening for signs. It led me to a book that’s unexpectedly changing everything for me right now.
Here’s the story⤵
In the podcast, around minute 57:30, the interviewer Jonathan Fields is chatting with Elizabeth Gilbert (of Big Magic fame) about what she does when the same old problems and patterns keep coming up in her life, and she shares something interesting—something that got me seriously thinking about about how to stop repeating my same old mistakes and going around the same old mountains year after year.
I loved it.
So, I listened to more of The Good Life Project podcast episodes by Jonathan Fields and eventually stumbled onto a book he wrote called Sparked: Discover Your Unique Imprint for Work that Makes You Come Alive (specifically, the audio version, which is really, really good).
In it, he talks about finding and doing our life’s work with “purpose, engagement, meaningfulness, expressed potential, and flow“ instead of drudgery, dread, or a steady stream of doldrums.
I want that.
So, I listened to the whole book in the span of just a couple of days. Afterward, I took the quiz to find out which of the 10 personality types/work styles make me feel most alive and which ones drain me. Then, I got my whole family to take the quiz and listened to the chapters outlining our strengths again, and let me tell you something. . .
It’s changing everything.
I learned that the work that makes me feel most energized is work that requires me to learn (aka. Maven, I live to learn), and this is supported by work that gives me a chance to share that learning with others and encourage them to learn, too (aka. Sage, I awaken insight). I learned that the thing that drains me most is when I feel like I have to perform (aka. Performer). I also learned that I live in a home full of creators (aka. Makers, They make ideas manifest), and that all four of us have something really cool in common—an intense need to learn (aka. Maven, We live to learn). I learned that some of us are drained when we have to advocate or defend a cause (aka. Advocate) while others are drained when they have to gather people and lead them (aka. Warrior).
This explains so much about the struggles I’ve been having in my work life recently. It’s changing everything about the way I’m looking ahead and planning around my priorities for the future.
Here’s a sneak peek of the 10 types you’ll learn more about when you read the book or take the quiz⤵
Maven - I live to learn
Maker - I make ideas manifest
Scientist - I figure things out
Essentialist - I create order from chaos
Performer - I turn moments into magic
Sage - I awaken insight
Warrior - I gather and lead people
Advisor - I guide to grow
Advocate - I'm your champion
Nurturer - I've got you
& here’s the best part⤵
This isn’t one of those books that encourages you to blow up your whole life and all of your relationships and makes you feel like if you don’t walk into your current place of employment right this very minute and quit on the spot, then you’re not living your true purpose. (In fact, the author specifically advises against that over and over again in the book.)
This is a book that shows you how to thrive right where you are while you lean into the purpose and potential of what makes you uniquely gifted, talented, and positioned on this planet to make a difference.
If you could use a little help thriving today, could I suggest listening to the Sparked on audio or hopping online and taking the quiz? Maybe even right now?