The Cherokee people have a saying, “Pay attention to the whispers so you won’t have to hear the screams.” Culturally, monetary success and professional prestige is highly valued, and people find a sense of fulfilment when they have ‘achieved … .’ The ever-moving “when” gets renegotiated the moment it is about to be reached, creating a mirage of a never ending vicious. A fresh start for career transitions in midlife often happen from being motivated by the chance of finding deeper personal meaning in the work moving from ‘what’ to ‘why.’ These words are filled with so much hope yet so much dread. Strong Emotions are triggered when redefining one’s sense of self. According to Gallup research, 55% of people in the U.S. define themselves by their job, instead of considering it something that they do to earn a living. If your job or career changes, then you’ll likely need to adjust your self-image, too. People want to be respected and honored for who they are, and one’s chosen career is a big part of this equation.
Keep asking yourself, “What am I truly passionate about?” and use it as your personal compass to find career options where you can tune into elements of your passion. Create your balanced scorecard for your career satisfaction. This could encompass financials, quality of work/life, family time and whatever else matters to you.
Explore the answer to some of these questions:
- What is standing in the wings of your life waiting to make its entrance?
- What are some of the values that you want to live your life by?
- What would you do if you were not afraid?
@weekly prompt