Finding A Career
Beyond Your Fear

Has finding a career turned into a struggle? There is a world of possibility for earning a living. Though sometimes absolutely nothing inspires you and it feels like nothing ever will. This is a major clue that you are encountering some internal barriers. Here we will explore five big beliefs that hold people back and how to move beyond them.

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People always choose what seems to be the best option to them at the time. This means that the quality of their choices is determined by how clearly they can see their situation. Unfortunately most people remain unconscious of who they are being when making decisions. As such they have no way of knowing if they are making a constructive or destructive choice.

These big five beliefs are common unconscious mental blocks when it comes to finding a career. By becoming aware of how these apply to your situation, you create the opportunity to make more fulfilling decisions.

1) “I can’t decide”

This stems from a fear of commitment. The refusal to make a choice is an attempt to keep your options open. It protects you from making the wrong decision.

The price you pay is becoming more stuck in your situation. When you do not decide you are in fact choosing ‘nothing’. This nothingness suppresses the natural yearning to create and self-express. The longer you remain stuck, the more feelings of confusion and frustration you will experience.

Eventually the tension will need to be resolved. You can do this one of two ways – giving up on your dreams and aspirations, as many do, or by making a proactive decision about finding a career.

2) “I can’t do it”

Even when you know what you want, the fear of not being good enough can hold you back. Some people do know what they want, but think that it is impossible for them to achieve. They have created a world of excuses – perhaps they are too young, too old, or too poor.

These doubts are aimed to protect you from potential suffering. However, if they prevent you from moving forward they have also condemned you to an unfulfilling career.

3) ‘It is too risky’

Security and survival seem like sensible values. In reality they are a disguise for the fear of failure. Taking steps to improve your chances of success is constructive and proactive. Not taking ‘risky’ action to avoid failure will squash your dreams.

Any change from the current situation is a step into the unknown. Eventually change will happen whether or not you want it. The choice you have is to identify what you really want and then start moving towards it despite the uncertainties. The more uncertainty you are able to embrace the larger the steps you can take towards finding a career you will love.

4) “I have to…”

Some people deliberabtely play small in order to avoid taking responsibility for their personal situation. This is often hidden behind a self-sacrificing or victim mentality. They feel constrained to their situations either by duty or oppression.

There is nothing you have to do. You are choosing your current situation. The only thing stopping you from making different choices is a disproportionate perception of the consequences. Nothing is worth enduring at the expense of your authentic fulfilment.

5) “I should…”

Society, parents, friends and colleagues all have an opinion of you and what you should do. These views are created out of their priorities and life experience as much as from who you are.

Sometimes what we want for ourselves differs from what those around us think we should be doing. In these situations there is a fear of disapproval. When those around us resist our choices it makes life uncomfortable. This is why finding support for success in our personal goals is so important.

Finding a Career

Nobody is entirely immune to doubts and fears. It is only through awareness that we have the power to acknowledge them and make new choices based on love.

Often these will have been emotionally anchored in by painful past experiences. The avoidance of pain is part of our survival mechanism. These beliefs formed in order to avoid suffering from similar situations in the future.

However, this hardware is out of date with modern life. Taking risks when climbing the career ladder is quite different to taking risks climbing a tree. One fall will hurt you emotionally and financially but the other might kill you! It is irrational to make career decisions as if getting it wrong will lead to death!

Facing Fear

During my career search after university I experienced all these beliefs. I have to get a well-paid job because I have been given a good education. I should do a graduate scheme in order to be successful. Setting up a business is too risky. I cannot do it because I am too young, too inexperienced.

With each of these thoughts rattling around in my head I found myself unable to decide. I was caught by all the reasons and rules my fears had created. I felt that there were no career options that would fulfil me.

The reality was, I was working in a coffee shop. I remained paralysed there as long as I remained unconscious to my fears. It was only by gaining awareness that I could rise above them and gain the clarity to make positive choices. By leaving the coffee shop and leaving behind my fears, I freed myself to have new experiences in event management. It was through these that I started finding a career path that was right for me.

Gaining Awareness

You can start gaining awareness by considering your current situation and looking for what you are afraid of. Ask yourself:

• Where do you demonstrate each these beliefs?
• What are you protecting yourself from?
• What is it costing you?
• How can you protect yourself and create new opportunities in your career?

When you understand the beliefs that are unconsciously holding you in your current situation you gain the power to make new choices. It is this freedom allows you to stop struggling against your circumstances. Greater self-knowledge gives you the power to embrace the uncertainties of change. When you leave your old ‘safe’ situation you are on the inspiring path to finding a career beyond your fear!

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