So many of us go through life boxing ourselves in a job that leaves us yearning for more. We show up to work daily with a mere hope that today will be the day that meaning and purpose will make an appearance in our lives.

We wake up dreading to go back into the same building. Unmotivated by meaningless work, old structures, and hierarchical leadership leave us questioning every decision in our lives .

During this journey, our dissatisfaction with work will manifest into physical symptoms. Many of us will suffer anxiety by the mere thought that tomorrow is Monday. Some of us will have full-blown panic attacks that increase over time. I coached a client who had a panic attack once or twice weekly and always and only at work.

Coincidence? You tell me.

The thing is that most people choose their employment, their careers with their logical brains rather than with their hearts. The rational brain is driven by logic, and it sounds a lot like this:

• Doctors make a lot of money and live a comfortable life.

• My parents always wanted me to pursue Architecture.

• This career leads to early retirement and a good pension.

Sound familiar? I know it does because we all make decisions from our logical brains. The kicker is that your career, the one thing you choose to do to create the life of your dreams, is one of the most essential choices you will ever make.

Why?

Because in this career you will spend most of your time and energy. You will have to show up daily and give it your all, and if it does not fill you up inside with purpose, the paycheck will not be enough to keep you motivated.

When it comes to our life's work, we must make this decision from our hearts. This is the place that is so authentically yours, the home where your most profound desires lie. Choosing your life's work from your heart center sounds very different from your logical brain. Heart center career choices sound like this:

• Being of service to others lights me up. Therefore I choose to work in philanthropy.

• My artistic expression is my lifeline; that is why I became a writer.

• I love beautifying spaces; consequently, I'm going to pursue a career in interior design.

Were you able to feel the difference between the two as you read them? I know you were because they both have a different appeal. We humans have been enculturated to pursue a job that provides us with a stable paycheck.

But at what cost?

The pursuit of a stable paycheck and secure job comes at a cost. A high cost. In this pursuit, we exchange our passions, dreams, and purpose for steady pay. Living for the weekends, dealing with anxiety, victims of panic attacks, and a persistent feeling that our lives are passing us by.

Today, I invite you to give your logical brain a break and connect with your heart. Your heart holds all the answers you seek. It also contains the roadmap of how you will get there.

Go ahead, stop overthinking and begin to practice ways to quiet your mind and connect with your heart. The journey back to our hearts looks different yet similar for all of us. Many of us are called to take this journey at different seasons of our lives. Yet the destination is the same: Personal Freedom.

Cheering for you always,

Amber Murat-Mindset liberator