Ditch the Guilt: Do What You Wanna Do!

By Annie Scott Jonathan Fields was once a big shot New York City lawyer. Then he ditched it all and opened up a yoga studio. He started a well-loved blog called Awake at the Wheel, then wrote the book "Career Renegade," appropriately subtitled: "How to Make a Great Living Doing What You Love." Obviously, we should all buy his book and change our lives for the better. Aren't we lucky that we live in a world where we have so many choices? Fine, I'll confess. Sometimes, it makes me feel really guilty. And I know it's not just me. But the "Career Renegade" concept got me thinking: Is there any merit to feeling bad about privilege or about taking complete advantage of the opportunities that life presents? Perhaps not. Perhaps there is absolutely no point in feeling guilty that in this very same country, some people are trapped in terrible jobs, are living in poverty and are not very good looking. When I think of people more fortunate than I am, I desperately want them to enjoy their lot. There is nothing more ungrateful and obnoxious than a starlet whining about how much they hate being rich and famous. I want them to be fabulous. I want the trust fund kids on the Upper East Side to spend lots and lots of money on things nobody needs. I want lottery winners to say, "Yup, it was totally the best thing ever." Don't get me wrong; I love being me. But if someone has life a little easier than I do? I sure as sugar want them to enjoy that, because somebody ought to. So ... no to the guilt. It is perhaps only valuable when it motivates someone to do something good -- like, if a twinge of guilt after making your first million makes you give $100,000 to ugly orphans with no legs. It would be better if charity were motivated by something other than guilt, but I think no matter what you tell yourself, there's a tiny thread of it running through most charitable acts. We have choices. We shouldn't sit around contemplating them and feeling bad. We should be grateful if we can do what we wanna do! Jonathan Fields is the kind of guy who can kick your ass through your brain. Maybe it's the yoga. Here's an excerpt from his "Fire Fly Manifesto," which he wrote "to try to change the conversation away from doom and gloom:" "I’ve got news for you...What feels like the end of the the world to you now may, in fact, be the window you’ve dreamed of for decades... How many of you have felt locked into a tired, life-sucking career by a suffocating marriage of golden or lead handcuffs, fear that you’d be judged or ridiculed for changing paths and a life-stifling lack of belief in your ability to make a living doing what you love? Thing is, if that’s you…The economy has just served you up a big, fat opportunity!... A chance to make a bold change, take a shot at doing what you love, and not be judged for trying." -- Jonathan Fields, Career Renegade.com Go buy a copy of this for any of your friends who have been fired. That's charitable, right? And buy one for yourself. That's smart.