Choosing A Career You Will LoveChoosing a career is one of the biggest decisions in life. It impacts how you spend a huge chunk of time each day. Furthermore the ripple effects of choosing a career stretch into every area of life including health, wealth and relationships. Yet despite its significance, most people do not know or put much effort into discovering how to find a career they will love! There are many tools that can help you make a top career choice. However there is one all important question that comes before every other consideration…
So yes, it is important to clarify your career objectives. Who am I being?At first glance this could be a little perplexing. It is a very small question with no obvious answer. However, this is where it has the power to take your decision-making to the next level.A year after leaving university I reached an impasse in my career searches. I had tried to fit myself into all kinds of traditional career descriptions. I could not find any that were a comfortable fit. My situation seemed hopeless. I thought that as a graduate I had to find a graduate scheme to have a successful career. I was not aware that there were any serious alternatives. The opportunities I could see were limited by the beliefs I had acquired about what made a successful career. People hold all kinds of beliefs that limit their career opportunities. Have you encountered these ones: trading shares is glamorous, sales is evil, or cleaning toilets is degrading? It is important to lay these aside. Any emotional attachments or aversions can blind you to opportunities, just because they are not in a form you expect. When you look beyond your assumptions and judgements it is evident that different jobs are just different ways of occupying your time. No single career path is innately better or worse than another. Nevertheless, you will find some careers more fulfilling than others. However, this is not a quality of the career. It is a function of who you are, and how the career matches you. The best career choice for you is determined by who you are being in your present situation. It was not until I set aside my assumptions and judgements about what I had to do that I found a way forward. Instead trying to fit into a predefined career path, I decided who I wanted to be and started fitting the world to me. At its essence, every career choice is about who you choose to be given your situation. The decision to become an accountant can stem from being fearful about job security or from being inspired by a passion for solving detailed problems. What role are you playing?In life people play many roles: the Rebel, the Provider, the Businessman, the Idealist, and the Cynic amongst others. These roles are the different voices in your head that vie for attention when you try to make a decision.When thinking about setting up a business. The Idealist might say “this is an opportunity to help thousands of people”, whilst the Provider could contest that “there is rent to pay, it is too risky”. Whilst choosing a career there many roles come out play. It can be difficult to make sense of them and so make a fulfilling choice. Thankfully all the competing voices can be sorted into two broad categories: Love or Fear. Love or Fear?Each role has a fundamental motivation which is derived from either Love or Fear. By reducing the rainbow of voices to these two categories, choosing a career becomes much easier.The roles of Love move towards ideals like self-expression, inspiration, and connection. Decisions made with this motivation are steps towards a fulfilling career. The roles of Fear move away from dangers like loss, disappointment, and failure. Choosing a career like this takes you away from your passions and towards work you will learn to loath. To find a fulfilling and rewarding career path all you have to do is be as loving as possible in all your choices! Why are so many people unhappy at work?Unfortunately, career choices are not clear cut. There are often aspects of both Love and Fear in any decision. This can make it very confusing.Whilst people always choose what seems like the best option, the quality of their choice is determined by how clearly they see themselves. Fearful career paths often hold out attractive promises like quick money or high status. These may appeal to the ego as shortcuts to fulfilment, but ultimately they will prove to be hollow achievements because external factors will never make you happy inside. People make fearful choices when they are unconscious of who they are being whilst choosing a career. By dedicating time to understanding the loving or fearful nature of your motivations, you can unearth your most fulfilling career choices. Understanding Your ChoicesWhen you fully understand the essence of your career choices you will experience an inner knowing. You will feel drawn towards a particular choice. This is the most loving and fulfilling decision for you at this time. The fears will still be there but you will have the choice to act despite them. Any other decision would be self-destructive.Finding and following this inner knowing is a very personal choice. It is easy to allow other peoples’ expectations, our limiting beliefs and judgements to obscure our view. Only the courageous are able to look in their hearts and find honest answers. However, when you are ready, you can gain awareness of the Love and Fear in your choices by asking these questions:
Choosing a Career is one of the biggest decisions in your life. People make the best choices they are capable of. However, the quality of their choices is limited by how clearly they can see themselves. You can increase your awareness by asking “Who am I being?” as you make a choice. This important question creates the opportunity to discern how much Love and Fear are present in your decisions. The option with the most Love present will stand out and present you with your best career choice. It is only by choosing a career with this awareness that we can be inspired to a truly fulfilling path. Discover The Top 5 Signposts To Your Best Career Choices!
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