Marja Zapusek had always wanted to be a lawyer, but the reality of the job versus what she imagined while studying, turned out to be two very different things. It took her some time, but she’s finally left the job that was sapping her energy and now teaches as a facilitator for Access Consciousness Being You classes, which can help people see if being true to themselves requires a change in circumstances.
When Marja finished college and qualified as a lawyer, she worked in a corporate environment. “I had always been a utopian idealist and wanted to work with underprivileged people – especially women and children – to give them a voice. The reality was that no one in the system really cared about justice, they just wanted to get things done quickly and everything was about time and money – it was like a cold shower.”
Reality for Marja as a single mom meant that leaving a well-paid job wasn’t immediately possible, so she edged out slowly, doing more of what she loved outside of work hours until it felt do-able to start up on her own.
“Like many people I knew I had to get out. I wasn’t waking up happy or looking forward to work. There are so many people in that situation but it’s not always easy to get out if it’s not practical financially.”
When people in her classes are questioning whether it’s the right time to leave their full-time job in pursuit of their dreams, Marja helps them through the decision with a series of tools and processes. Here are some of her quick tips:
1. Ask yourself questions, without any preconceived ideas of what the answer should be. Is this work situation tenable for me? What will the choice leave create? How will that feel for me? If I leave, what will my life be like? Will I feel regret or relief? Don’t try and force answers one way or another, just gently pay attention to what comes up in your thoughts, not just immediately – but also in the days after asking those questions.
2. Work out who you are being right now. If you’re not happy at work you may have taken on the values of your parents, or your peers or someone else who influences your life. Work out who you would be if you were truly being you, and what you would do next.
3. Learn not to judge yourself. When you’re not judging yourself, it’s easier to see your own value and make those crucial decisions.
4. Play with your intuition. Every situation has a feeling to it. When you’re making choices see which decision ‘feels’ lighter. If thinking about one of your options feels heavy, it might not be the right one for you.
About Marja Zapusek
Marja Zapusekis an Access Consciousness certified facilitator, Being You certified facilitator and Right Voice for You She is also a licensed mediator with a law degree and works in the corporate world as an assistant auditor and CEO of two companies, one in Accounting and one in self-development. Before finding Access, she had tried all sorts of modalities, none of which created any sense of freedom or even much change. Access helped her leave an abusive relationship, create a happy home with her beautiful daughter, and have a healthy relationship with her body. Today she continues to build a thriving business traveling the world – living out her dreams and teaching others to do the same. Follow her on Facebook.