Before embarking on a career change, one part that people often don’t think about is how getting to know yourself better and listening to your own voice over others can actually help you figure out what comes next in your career and find the courage to make the change.
I have spoken on this a few times but I strongly feel in the U.S., in particular, many children are on a check the box journey that continues into our adult years.
From a very young age we start asking children the daunting question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?" From that moment, kids suddenly realize for one that they have to choose a job and second that work is what we value as a society first.
We are constantly told by society and loved ones what we “should” be doing. The American dream is still touted as the key to success. We are told these are the formulas for happiness:
Good grades + success in school = Getting into a top university
Top university education = Successful Career and a Success Life
Big House + Marriage + Kids + Successful job + Lots of Money = Life Bliss
How many people do you know have followed these formulas and are still not happy?
We hear stories about it every day and I have certainly met people that seem to have everything from the outside but there is still something missing in their lives when you get to know them better.
Every day there are “shoulds” we are sold through media and loved ones and many times they feel like we absolutely must do them. You MUST exercise this many times a week, you MUST learn pickleball, you MUST have kids, you MUST get married, you MUST remain in your stable job. Not all of them are bad but also not all of them are good either.
There is so much pressure to live life according to everyone else’s rules or playbook. In following everyone else’s rules, we never establish our own or get to know what WE actually want.
There is no judgement if you are there. It’s easy to hop on the train and never stop to look around or get off. Life gets busy and sometimes we just need to keep the trains moving.
We all have moments and realizations that we are listening to others more than we are listening to ourselves. The beauty and challenge of being an adult is that we get to choose our paths.
If you are considering a career change, I strongly encourage you to:
Reflect on what “shoulds” are showing up in your life.
How do you feel about them? Are they aligned with what you want for yourself? If not, what do you want to do about it?
Do you have a strong sense of what is most important to you and what you value?
Are you spending your time doing things you value and with the people that you want to? If not, what do you want to do about it?
Are you working in a career because somebody told you that you “should” or it’s just comfortable? If so, are you happy? Do you like it?
If any of this resonates with you, you aren’t alone. It’s easy to get caught up in the “shoulds” in life. We all have moments and now that you realize it, it’s your choice what you want to do about it.
I have been in this place. I made the scary choice to leave a stable job and industry and move back in with my parents for a bit which allowed me time to ground myself again as I changed industries. I’ve since made multiple changes in my career and life; some of these changes haven’t always been the easy choice but I am so glad I’ve made them.
If you are looking for guidance or support or just want to chat with me to hear about my journey, please set up a time with me. I always love sharing my story.
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