Career Changes Bring Opportunities
for Learning and Growth

Career changes are something that many of us experience in the course of our working lives. Sometimes these changes are a result of choices we make, and at other times, circumstances such redundancy create changes in our careers whether we like it or not.

For most of us change can be daunting, if not downright terrifying. Fear of the unknown can be very powerful, and keeps us from making conscious choices and changes at times. Career changes can be particularly scary, as our livelihoods usually depend on our careers, and often we derive a big part of our feeling of worth from the work we do.

Some of us tend to over-identify with our jobs. This is encouraged by the fact that we often judge success by career prestige and income. From early childhood, we are asked what we want to ‘be’ when we grow up. This can create a very unhealthy habit of defining ourselves by the jobs we do. You are not your job. Your job is simply a function of your physical being, and a way of expressing your abilities and providing some form of benefit to the world you inhabit.

We should not ask ourselves what we want to ‘be.’ We already are. A much better question to ask is what do we want to do? This is ideally the essence of our careers- doing the type of work that feels right, and allows us to express our gifts and talents.

The work that we want to do will very likely change and evolve over time. Often though, the fundamental nature remains the same. My desire to communicate and to encourage others has led me through various career changes so far, and I imagine that my career path will continue to meander as I explore the many ways that I can do what I love.

If you are not feeling fulfilled by the work that you are currently doing, perhaps it is time to start considering some career changes. In many cases, people remain in work situations that make them miserable because of the fears that are provoked by the thought of making career changes. If you know that your present job is not truly right for you, but you are hesitating to make a change, consider what the factors are that might be holding you back.

Some possible reasons for avoiding making career changes include;

* Being unwilling to face a possible drop in income.

* Believing that you have no choice- that you are stuck where you are because of financial commitments.

* Being unwilling to take a less prestigious position in order to change fields.

* Not wanting to displease your spouse or family.

* Being afraid of what your friends, colleagues, or community may think or say.

* Being afraid that you won’t succeed in the work that you really want to do.

* Not knowing what you really want to do.

* Not knowing how to go about getting started with the work you want to do.

* Knowing the essence of the work you want to do, but not knowing what kind of job will provide that.

* Being afraid that you will succeed in the work that you really want to do.

* Being afraid of starting ‘from scratch.’

* Being afraid that you don’t have the qualities/qualifications you need to do what you want to do.

* Feeling that the time you have put into your current career will have been wasted.

Wow! Is it any wonder that many people put off making career changes unless they are basically forced to make a change? That is a whole lot of reasons we might avoid making job changes, but do you notice a theme? They are almost all based on fear! If you know that you could be happier doing something different, but you choose to stay where you are because you are afraid, then fear is ruling your career path. Fears are powerful, but they can be overcome.

To begin overcoming fears, take the focus off them. Start thinking of reasons why you can do something, rather than why you can’t. Listen to your heart, trust your intuition, and know that there is a way that you can discover the work that is truly right for you and jobs that will allow you to do that work. It could be that even your current job might be able to provide more opportunity to do the work you really want to do.

Make career satisfaction and fulfillment a priority in your life. Develop your faith and trust in yourself and the universe, and the career changes that will make you happy will become clear and possible.

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