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By Craig Nathanson

How do you define your work? Do you look to your work to define meaning and joy or just to collect a paycheck? Each carries a different result. Those who seek meaning and joy in their work tend to choose carefully what they do; they know what they do helps determine who they are. For others who work just for the money, there is little expectation of meaning or joyjust as long as the paycheck rolls in. Career vs. vocational passion In my work, I am often asked, What is the difference between Career and Vocational Passion?

Jobs are just an exchange of services for money.

Careers are the same but with a better title. Sadly, for many people, jobs=careers=retirement=death. Can you avoid death? Probably not, but you can get more enjoyment and happiness out of each and every day before you get there.
Vocational passion means having a lifes work that you can do for your whole lifetime without the need to ever retire. Retirement is only for people who dont like what they do! Want a quick path to death? Retire and wait.

Sure, theres much to do including travel, relaxing and visiting friends, but this doesnt last long. For most of us, our later years will also bring tension and anxiety about how to spend our days and in many cases, how to make a contribution. Get going before your crisis hits! Claire Hegarty of Ireland wanted in mid-life to pursue her love of animals and start a pet sitting business. But it wasnt until she read about someone who became ill suddenly at the age of 41 and dropped dead in the middle of a stressful presentation did she decide to take action. Jennifer Clare of Australia was middle aged and overweight. She had little energy and little hope. One day, she decided to help herself and others by turning her challenges into a business that helps other people lose weight quickly through new creative strategies. Are you on a path to just retire, too? The French word for retire means to retreat, take out of circulation, move away from, withdraw from and rest. Is this what you want for the second half of your life? Heres the best way to retire and then die. * Worry about what others will think if you start to do what you love * Look for approval from others * Be afraid of change * Wait for a crisis to occur What happens in mid-life? We re-evaluate everything from our relationships, our work, our health, our finances and our emotional state. We need to recognize that this is healthy and important to do. How to gain purpose in your life now! Realize that what you do determines who you are.

Is your work a reflection of who you are and/or want to be?

Mid-life is a great time to:
* Align your abilities and your interests
* Reflect deeply about what you are passionate about
* Ensure your work is maximally expressive of your passions
* Ensure your work meets your personal needs
* Ensure that the work you do feels just right for you Is your purpose worth it to you? Only you can be the judge. Mid-life adults with purpose can experience:
* A greater sense of integrity and authenticity
* An experience of being more alive
* An increased feeling of contribution
* Stronger health and psychological well-being
* A life thats more congruent
* An acceptance of your own mortality and as a result, less fear of death and a greater sense of your life plans and their meaning * An increased sense of self-esteem and happiness Choose a purpose.

This is what Claire and Jennifer did and so can you.
The more important question is… When will you start?

Craig Nathanson is the author of “P Is For Perfect: Your Perfect Vocational Day” and a coaching expert who works with people over forty. Craigs second book, “Dont just retire and die”, is due out at the end of 2006. Craigs systematic approach, the trademark “Ten P” model, helps people break free and move toward the work they love. Visit Craigs online community at http://www.thevocationalcoach.com where you can sign up for a class or private coaching, or you can read other stories of mid-life change and renewal. Craig works with clients all over the world. Craigs office is located at 7960 Brentwood Blvd, Suite D in Brentwood, Ca. Craig can be reached at (925) 240-0770 or craig@thevocationalcoach.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Craig_Nathanson http://EzineArticles.com/?Over-40?-Is-Your-Work-Full-of-Purpose?&id=186605

I recently took some time to look back on my life and my decisions – back in October I turned 40 – and found that I didn’t take the time to seek my inner voice and listen to it. I spent the past 15 years as an executive building businesses for other people. All of my waking time was spent thinking about how I could make their business better – leaving little time for me to think about what I was doing, whether it made sense for me in the long run, or the effect my decisions would have on my family.

Turning 40 woke me up to the fact that what I thought was security – having someone else cover my health insurance and pay my wage – was actually giving my life away cheap. So I decided to leave my cushy corporate gig and start a business that I could build for me and my family. Something that would pay me back in greater ways than any employer would – and I’m talking way beyond money to deeper relationships with my family and friends and more freedom to explore and invest my time in those things are truly exciting to me.

The journey here has been eased by the fact that my wife is my partner in this new business. By being involved from day one she has been able to allay her insecurities and be truly supportive. That insecurity comes up occasisonally but it short lived as we both see the invoices getting paid and the money going into the bank. The time we get to spend together now has brought our relationship to a new level.

- Mark

Right before turning 30, I got out of a very, very bad abusive marriage with my beautiful son. When I turned 40, I was happy sort of fit and just coasting, but shortly after went into fitness in a HUGE way. What I assumed was a fit life changed when I got heavily into body-building and eating to maintain that life so…by the age of 42, I was in the best “photo” shape of my life.

Then, after a few years of maintaining that lifestyle I went into (in addition to my business life of being an economic-analyst) getting my personal training certification, Spinning Certification and ACE fitness Trainer certification.

I eventually left my day job (the big-bucks job) to start my own in-home personal training business that I’ve been doing for the last four years. I’m happier, poorer, but feel good every night I go to sleep because, unlike my last career, I have the opportunity to make a difference…not matter how small or large…in someone’s life, instead of just impacting the bottom line of a corporation.

Yes, sometimes I worry that those wrinkles on my neck show my age. But, I still can work beyond most of my clients abilities no matter how young they are. I’m one tough lady!!!!