SEARCHING FOR YOUR CALLING – Quest or Curse?

Written by Nina Ham


Judging byrepparttar extraordinarily positive reader response to Po Bronson’s What Should I Do With My Life?, people are aching for a sympathetic outlook on their stories of career dissatisfaction. They tend to be their own harshest critics, often riddled with self-doubt and embarrassment about not getting this “career thing” right. Maintaining a constructive attitude is challenging. In spite of contrary statistics - such as,repparttar 130468 average American changes jobs eight times overrepparttar 130469 course of his/her lifetime - we still tend to harborrepparttar 130470 expectation that we “should” decide by our late 20’s/early 30’s what we want to do and follow that thread forrepparttar 130471 remainder of our working lives. As T. puts it, “My search for work I’m passionate about is regarded by my friends like a child’s drawing that’s put up onrepparttar 130472 refrigerator…isn’t that cute!” If you’re in a career transition, what’srepparttar 130473 finger-pointing you’re doing at yourself? Does any of these sound familiar? • If it doesn’t look good on my resume, it doesn’t count • Maybe I should stop worrying about my calling and get a job • I’ve never been happy in a job…I need to look elsewhere for fulfillment • I have responsibilities. I can’t afford to look for work I love • What if I find my dream job and I’m still dissatisfied? • How will I explain to people…? If this were taking place in a courtroom instead of inside your head, your attorney would undoubtedly argue for extenuating circumstances. Ask yourselfrepparttar 130474 following: What did you learn in your formal education about making a good career choice?

When were you encouraged to match your abilities, values, and personality to career options, and shown how?

Would you ever consider marrying someone you hadn’t dated first?

Are you ever told that what you’re qualified to do something that earns a decent wage is not sufficient reason to keep doing it?

Do you know where you can get reinforcement for continuing to search for work you’re passionate about?

Did you have models for matching changes in work with changes in life stage?

MY CAREER IS IN THE DOLDRUMS…Do I need a Coach or a Therapist?

Written by Nina Ham


Is Mondayrepparttar worst day of your week? Can you hardly remember when you enjoyed going to work? Do friends ask why you seem so down? Maybe this has been going on awhile, and you’re realizing it’s time to do something. But where do you turn? At one moment you tell yourself “It’s just my career…Change that, and everything will be OK”. Another moment, you acknowledge you’re living under a cloud and a lot of old emotional ghosts are returning. Your friend who’s recommending you consult her therapist may be right. Your uncertainty is understandable. Work itself is never “just work” but can reach deep into our attitudes toward ourselves and into our sense of belonging inrepparttar 130466 world. Furthermore, therapy and coaching have much in common and differ primarily inrepparttar 130467 emphasis each places on action and understanding. Whether you decide to deal with your work issues through a practical approach or a psychological approach is a matter of choice. The questions posed below should help you make that choice. •Are you an action person or an insight person? Most people are both, in some mix, but they instinctively approach change either by setting it in motion with action or by first assessing and preparing for its emotional impact. A shy mid-level manager, for example, who has taken on new responsibilities that involve public speaking, may gravitate toward a Toastmasters group for help. She would be a candidate for coaching if she wanted to develop her mastery further. Or she might prefer to look toward therapy as a setting in which she could explore her anxieties about being inrepparttar 130468 spotlight. •What’s your track record for converting personal desires and dreams into real-time? Although all of us may have periods of doubting whether we deserve work we love and are good at, being able to sustain a commitment to having what you want is essential for coaching. If you find yourself stuck in daydreaming aboutrepparttar 130469 ideal career, or perhaps avoiding or sabotaging efforts to create it for yourself, it may be that you’re blocked by low self-esteem and/or depression. In this case, therapy might berepparttar 130470 better choice, to help you build a positive investment in yourself.

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