When you were a child, you may have admired somebody doing something really well and wanted to emulate them, that could be as simple as being a great Mum or Dad, and so you may have taken on the strategies you saw and admired and strived to be like them.
It can be hard to make decisions as a young person because we don’t know what we don’t know and, if we have only been exposed to small amounts of trades and careers, then our options can be limited. So, if someone you looked up to encouraged you to work as a solicitor, or to follow in your parent’s footsteps and take over their organisation, it’s likely it's the path you follow.
Sooner or later, this can lead to dissatisfaction in your job, feeling stuck and unfulfilled, you may not know why, as it seems you have everything you have been aiming for, but you are just not happy.
As we grow and develop, so what makes us happy also changes, new openings and also circumstances beyond our control arise. Some people may find themselves at threat of redundancy, or they may see it as being on the precipice opportunity – so the question is when on the edge do you jump, fall or fly? If you find yourself in this situation take time to really evaluate what your beliefs and values are telling you would bring you fulfillment.
It’s accepted through Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs that physiological needs come first, but putting that aside, it is possible to use the situation to your advantage.
Conflicting beliefs and values can stop you from enjoying a brilliant future, so by balancing your own beliefs and values, with what is required of you can bring the happiness you deserve. A great way to do this is to identify what is important to you for example:
1. Recognition
2. Financial security
3. Making a difference
4. Progression
5. Enjoyment
6. Trust
7. Learning and growth
8. Variety
9. Other
Then take the list your values and work out what is most important to you in order, you may be surprised that it’s not what you expected. Push yourself to decide a hierachy, based on your own values and needs, not what you feel is expected of you.
Does the path you have been following meet those needs, or is it time to take a new route? Once you know what you want, your brains reticular activating system (a whole other post!), will ensure relevant opportunities will be presented to you.
Speaking from experience, as someone that has had a fulfilling career path, I am happier now than I have ever been in work and in life, because I invested the time in me, to understand what makes me truly happy. Part of that was understanding my beliefs and values in business, relationships, family, health, in personal growth and spirituality. I understood myself completely, had my sights set on what I wanted and now I help others do the same.
If you’d like to find out more, I offer a free 30 minute consultation, so please get in touch.