There's plenty to laugh about. What makes you care so much about how you look to others, anyway? Isn't it silly how much time and effort you put into making a good impression? Isn't it hilarious to recognize that everybody else is earnestly working to make a good impression, too? What if we all just relaxed and had a big belly laugh over how ridiculous we are? We'd get more done, and we'd have more fun doing it.

We take ourselves far too seriously. We should seize every opportunity to poke fun at our affectations. When we break down that facade we've so carefully crafted, we invite everyone else to join us. It's most effective way to connect with others and encourage a more lighthearted focus on what's really important.

One way to stay real about yourself is to intentionally select a goofy title. Forget traditional chief-of- operations, vice-president-of-marketing, sales-division- manager options. I choose to call myself a "mind masseuse" because it sounds silly. The image of someone poking their fingers into your brain is wacky. It makes people smile. (Okay, so it's vain to care about what others think. At least I can laugh about it!)

My husband owns his own business. Most people would refer to him as a CEO or president. Not him. He orchestrates distribution of Bodylinx magnetic jewelry, so he refers to himself as a "magnetic conductor". He adds this title to every email and letter he sends, and people appreciate his humorous approach.

Why not have a little fun with your description of your work? Fancy titles are laughable in their vanity. Even if your work requires you to maintain a certain level of decorum, come up with your own title for yourself that makes you smile. It'll keep you from getting too puffed up.

"A man who is not a fool can rid himself of every folly except vanity." Jean Jacques Rousseau, another French philosopher

Next time you find yourself studiously protecting your image, just grin. You're human. Vanity is a natural tendency, and one you're bound to hang on to despite your best efforts. Recognize it, laugh at it, and don't be shy about sharing that realization with others.

It will make you a more excellent human where it matters most--in eyes of those you love.

She started to ask herself;

What really drives me?

What made me do what I did?

What did I love most about job?

Gradually she had to acknowledge that most of her working life had been driven by fear. Fear of not being able to pay mortgage. Fear of getting into debt. Fear of failing a credit check. Fear of being a failure. Fear of having to be on her own.

However, she also realised that what had driven her to stay in her industry all her life was love she had for putting teams of people together. The love of developing people who felt they couldn’t achieve. The love of being a nanny, nurse, coach, counsellor etc to young and developing sales teams. The enjoyment she got out of caring for others, steering them, cajoling them. It was almost that over years her sales teams had become her family and she enjoyed that. What’s more she found that her greatest enjoyment had come from turning around ailing, little known or unsuccessful products.

Now she started to work with a new vigour. Instead of being an old or aged, victim, with little or no hope of getting work. She started to scan ads and rewrite her CV as a caring, coach, who loved developing and growing sales teams of young people. Someone who could be relied upon to introduce vigour and sparkle to old, tired and little known products.

We don’t have a happy ending to story yet, but Sarah had three interviews last week and one company has called to see her again as they are interested in what she might have to offer them. We are all keeping our fingers crossed.

And Sarah? She has a new spring in her step. A belief that she has discovered what she really wants to do. She is constantly focussed in positive. We have no doubt that she will get what she wants.

The moral to story. The answer is always inside yourself. The answer is in your thoughts. Look deep inside yourself. Ask yourself; What really drives me? What deep down is reason I’m on planet. Don’t cheat yourself: stay with question.. You will know when you find it because your whole body feels: yes I’ve got right answer. Then: Just accept it, change your thoughts and believe in yourself. And watch life change.

On other hand, as Beth Mende Conny stated, "If you don't take control of your life, don't complain when others do."

Julie and Graham www.desktop-meditation.com