I notice there tends to be two types of career changers. Those who are fortunate enough to be at a point in your life where you see a natural crossroads, and those who have been getting to grips with the fact your current career isn’t working and you need to change in order to maintain your sanity.
I spent a long time in the second camp, so I understand what its like.
You’ll know you’re in the second camp if you’ve struggled for months if not years to work things out, and make things better, to no avail. Your sense of control has eroded and you feel your choices are limited or non-existent leading you to feeling completely trapped. You’re confidence has hit rock bottom. Your relationships at work are strained. If you’re the one at the top, you may also be feeling a huge sense of isolation, as though you’re cut off from everyone else.
Those of you experiencing a natural crossroads are likely to feel excited at the prospect of creating a change that you have complete control over, although you may still be fearful because the unknown is usually pretty scary.
Why the Need for Calm?
Two main reasons:
We make better decisions when we’re calm. We’re able to think straight and use our head and our hearts to guide us. As soon as logic rules over the heart, we tend to make soul-less decisions that have little passion and after a while, the initial glow burns less and less brightly and ultimately leads you right back to where you started. When the heart rules the head, we can get carried away with our dreams without being grounded in any form of reality. An equal balance of head and heart will allow for passion and reality to blend into a well thought out career that you love.
Like attracts like. That means if you go into a new career feeling stressed, you’ll attract more of the same. Your co-workers, bosses and customers will be stressed, and your workload will likely give you something to be stressed about. Its a universal law that is gaining more and more scientific understanding, so I’m afraid that despite your best efforts to disguise your stress (you’ve probably become a bit of a Master at that), your energy field doesn’t lie.
I AM Stressed, What can I do?
The term nurture then manage comes to mind. If we’re stressed, we also tend to have lots of negative self talk going on. Your self critic is the mini version of you (or your Mother) who sits on your shoulder and tells you why you’re useless, not good enough, etc etc. Its so destructive. This voice shuts down your ability to get creative and be open to opportunity, which in my view are two of the most important qualities you’ll need when making a career change.
Do whatever it takes to create more calm because when you’re stressed, your cortisol levels to through the roof and you experience fight or flight. If you’re changing your career because your current one isn’t working you’ll have been in this state for some while. Trust me, an hour’s massage once a week will help take the edge off, but won’t do much to alleviate your stress long term.
This resource from Psychology Today is really helpful and gives you some practical ways to relieve your stress, read it here.
I NEED HELP
My style of coaching is all about nurture then manage. My blend of skills together with my experience of working with patients, carers and staff in a hospice a few years ago has enabled me to develop a unique approach to change. I can inspire you to achieve your career aspirations, and alongside creating your dreams, I’ll help you manage your stress so that you can create resilience. Resilience is your long term ability to cope with anything that comes your way and I will share a useful tool that has enabled clients to make dramatic shifts in their stress levels. Once you’ve learned it, you’ll have it for life.
If you’d like to chat about your specific situation, then I’d love to arrange a free, no obligation 40 minute chat. Contact me to arrange a suitable time. Alternatively, check out my the Meditation & Mindfulness in the Free Stuff section.
To your success!
Sandra