“Change is the one constant in life” so why are a lot of people terrified of it?
The answer is simply: Because it is a step into the unknown.
Nobody likes not knowing what comes next, nobody is comfortable with uncertainty.
But what if you could embrace this and see every change as a challenge, every step as a move forward towards achieving ultimate satisfaction?
There is nothing stopping you! Nothing, that is, except you and your preconceptions of how things ‘should’ be.
One word that causes so many issues in life ‘should’ -don’t get me wrong- It has it’s uses in a moral and ethical sense.
BUT
When you are looking at change, especially yourself -be it through your career or just your outlook on life- the ‘shoulds’ and the ‘oughts’ need to be addressed!
What am I talking about?
Let me give you an example: John grew up with an interest in geology and paliantology and yet went on and trained to become an accountant. Why? Because he had been told that Men should have a proper profession and he was told that a proper male profession was being a Doctor, a Lawyer, an Accountant, a Surveyor etc
So he has been an accountant for 40 years. He confesses that ‘it’s a job -a means to an end’.
40 years! I know that some people are quite happy doing this and fill their spare time with their passion… And for a lot of people, that’s ok! The world needs those sorts of people.
But if you are reading this, it’s probably because you’ve got to the stage in your life when you wonder ‘is this it? Is this really what my life is? Or can I change it?’
The answer: Yes you can!
My advice: take it slowly! Don’t just quit and then think, ‘what next?’ (unless you can afford to spend 3-6 months not working whilst you figure it out). Decide what you want to do, research all the possibilities… Create a plan of action… Then GO FOR IT!
If you already know what you are going to do and how you are going to do it, then you probably don’t need to read any further – you just need to go and make a start at changing your life, but you might still find it useful.
However, if you know you want a change but have no idea what you want to do, or even what you could do… The next section is for you!
Get a note pad and pencil!
The first task is an exercise to clear out all the negatives that you do not want in your life anymore, all the things that have made you decide you want to change. By understanding what you don’t want, you can then focus on what you do!
1) Write a list of what you DON’T want to do.
Include things like types of jobs, working hours, business types, industry sectors etc.
2) Now think about your skillset. What are you good at – but more importantly… What you enjoy!
3) Write down what you think you ‘should’ be doing. E.g. I should be earning x amount. I won’t be respected unless I do y. I need to be in a profession. Then have a think about who set these values. You’ve obviously taken them onboard, but Do you really agree with them? Are they still relevant going forward? (this process helps us to understand the obstacles we have built for ourselves and where they have come from).
Ok so now you know what you don’t want but what you can do and you know what you’ve been told to do.
Now;
4) Write down what you have always dreamed of doing.
This is the hardest bit -being told ‘the world’s your oyster’- there’s too much choice! So don’t think about it. Feel it! Open yourself up to a universe with infinite possibilities. You could do anything… Be outrageous! Be daft! This is where you put on paper exactly what your heart desires. Be honest with yourself. Don’t put any barriers in the way! Give yourself permission to do anything!
5) Now, Look at what you dream and have a go at analysing it. What is it about that dream that ignites your passion.
If you have written that you want to be an astronaut; Is that because you want to push yourself to your limits and float in a vacuum, or is it because you would like the training and cudos that being an astronaut gives you? Do you really want to go into space, or would you be just as happy working with others in advancing our knowledge of the universe?
Each dream does not have to be taken literally, but dreams help us to understand what we truely desire. It may simply be that you want a job with more excitement.
Whatever the outcome of the above exercise, be sure to give yourself time. Mull over what you have discovered about yourself.
There are constraints in life and a career change has be undertaken responsibly. We all have overheads and bills that must be paid. But these constraints do not rule over our ability to decide how to live our lives and how we provide for our families.
Everyone of us has a responsibility to ourselves to create a space around us that we can exist with contentment and happiness.
You don’t have to decide what you want to do right now, but knowing that you have the option to change your life to what you want is an important first step!
The next step is to Research into whatever you decide, see what opportunities are available.
If there isn’t a specific path open to you, start laying the foundations for a new path!
Good luck!
I’m still changing my life and enjoying every minute of it!