Career Clarity-----------from the Perspective of a Life & Mindset Coach
First, let’s get straight that we don’t all have the time, space and/or funds, to contemplate the ‘perfect’ job or career for us……for right now. Just know that you can work in a job or career, while planning another, that’s more authentically aligned, meaningful and fulfilling……. for you.
Our current society demands of us that we decide on a field of study or work, when we’re in our late teens and 20’s. In other parts of the world, it may be earlier or later. No matter.
There are ways to find a career that matches with WHO you really are, WHAT you want, HOW MUCH you want or need to earn, depending on where you live and the lifestyle you want. For example, I live in NYC and here, you do need to earn more than you would in the Midwest…….for room and board, food, culture, leisure, etc.
Although some things have become more challenging after the Covid pandemic, many things, including how we work, have opened up. Many of us have decided to leave company/corporate jobs to start our own businesses. Some have decided to become digital nomads; they work while traveling. Others enjoy the ‘hybrid’ option, where part of the week is working from home and the other part is at the office, where you can attend meetings and have some social interaction with colleagues.
There are many more options available; these are great but having too many choices can also produce the sensation of anxiety and overwhelm. So, let’s break it down or ‘chunk it down,’ as coaches do, to smaller steps.
As a Life & Mindset Coach in NYC (& Hypnotherapist), I would recommend that you start with your inner work. Even with career, it’s essential to do the inner work first: know who you really are, your purpose(s), your passions, priorities, preferences, values and more.
Do you like working independently? I do. Do you prefer working as part of a team? Do you like communicating or is analyzing data more up your alley?
In essence, it’s a good idea to KNOW YOURSELF first. It then becomes easier to decide on a career. Again, choosing a career now does not mean that you’ll be doing this for the rest of your life. As a matter of fact, in this day and age, it’s not uncommon for young people to change jobs every 2-3 years. There’s less employer and employee loyalty and faster change (including technology), so changing work and careers and being flexible is part of the new working world.
Personally, I’ve changed work and careers more than once. I was a dentist for 37 years and studied coaching and hypnotherapy on the side and then, started practicing these, too. 4 years ago, I decided to stop working as a dentist, sold my practice in NYC and decided to do only coaching, hypnosis, speaking and writing. I’ve also worked as an actor, writer and visual artist.
As a young person, I didn’t feel I had much choice. I came from immigrant parents and knew I had to support myself. I actually went into dentistry by accident. I started in communication and journalism because in every aptitude test I took at school throughout my childhood, I was told that languages, communication, and journalism, were my natural skills, gifts and aptitudes. I even dreamt of being a foreign correspondent. I love to travel.
Somehow, I got off course and was told by a boyfriend’s dad, both dentists, that I would be a good dentist. He listed some good reasons which appealed to me (to my intellect, at least): using my hands, helping people, being my own boss, the ability to work full time or part time and more. I decided to volunteer at a dental clinic at NYU to see how I felt. I ran with it.
To be honest, what I’m doing now is much more in alignment with who I am and what I really love; helping others to suffer less and develop more personal freedom, while being and expressing who they truly are. I love this amazing work!
You can always change jobs, careers and your thinking and experience with it. In this new age of work, you must become more open, more flexible, more adaptable, more tech-savvy and a good communicator.
So, let’s start where you must begin: with yourself!
Here are some Ways to Gain & Cultivate Clarity, whether you’re stuck in your career or want to start one:
1)Find Clarity: First, you gotta do the inner stuff: figure out, learn and write down what your unique gifts, skills and aptitudes are.
For example: do you prefer analyzing or communicating? Do you like team work or more individual work? Do you like working withing a structure: company, corporation, etc. or do you like entrepreneurial work? Do you like going into an office, hybrid work, or working from home? Do you like physical work or more intellectual work? Indoors or outdoors? Digital nomad work?
Once you know yourself well, then write down your goals & intentions for your work life. You may also add salary or goals for earning. Do you want to scale to a big business with many employees or do you like a small company?
REMINDER:
1) Don’t listen to your ‘shoulds,’ those that your parents, family, society, institutions or communities, may have taught you.
2) Internal vs External Validation: In the end, it’s about how you feel about your decision. Internal validation is more important than external validation. Those social media likes don’t matter much when it comes to your inner joy, peace and happiness.
3) Separate fact from opinion. Whether it’s with your thoughts or someone else’s, separate facts from opinions. Do your research.
4) Do some Introspection: short & long-term goals; is this what I really want (not someone else); what’s most important to you and how will this decision affect these things? Look inside, at your heart and soul. Then, your mind (with the help of the universe) will follow suit and help you organize the practical part (the HOW): earnings, hours, job descriptions, how to work, etc.
Becoming a Dr, dentist or lawyer may be appropriate for some folks; certainly not for everyone. Some creatives may have enjoyed dentistry and others won’t enjoy the repetitive and technical parts of it (that was me). In the same way, doing construction outdoors may be aligned with your goals and not with someone else’s.
Do not compare with others! You are unique, special and you’re here for a reason. It’s a good idea to combine who you are, what you want with what’s needed in your community and the world and what can make you a living doing.
It’s a good practice to write things down. It gets out of your head and you can see the choices, the pros and the cons, right in front of you.
2)Connect your ACTIONS to your Goals: take Action
As a coach, I ask my clients to put smaller, action steps (as part of their goal) into their schedule for the day, as well as movement/exercise, appointments, etc.
For example, I’m now writing my second book and to complete it, I have to schedule it into my week; so I plan out one hour, every couple of days, to focus solely on my book. No phone, no snacks; no distractions.
When you break things up into smaller steps, they become easily doable and you find that, little by little, big things get accomplished!
REMINDERS:
You may need help with ACCOUNTABILITY, so it’s a good idea to have a partner in the process: a colleague, a life coach, etc.
You may want to focus on HIGH-IMPACT activities, those that are in your zone of genius, those things that others can’t do as well or as creatively as you can.
CONSISTENCY is important. You must write new goals down and the action steps, take action to get there and repeat, repeat, repeat.
Of course, along with all this comes the need for COURAGE & CONTENTMENT. Courage comes from consistency and keeping your eye on your goals and contentment is a wonderful result of all this.
Work/career is an important part and chunk of our time, so it’s preferable to find work that aligns with the authentic you, that can make you a good living and the ability to do what you love (for me, this includes living in NYC and travel) and serves others and is needed in your world……and in the world.
For some, career is a big part of who they see themselves to be and for others, it’s about earning money. No matter your orientation, once you look into yourself and gain clarity and really understand who you are, what you want and what your skills and talents are, you’re on your way…………..onward and forward!
If you’re looking for a safe space, accountability, creativity and great listening, then
BOOK your free Clarity Call here
Be in touch to start a Coaching and/or Hypnosis program (@www.gigiarnaud.com)
With smiles & love,
Dr Gigi
PS: Please DM me here or be in touch @www.gigiarnaud.com
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