First steps to finding a job - get a grip on your inner critic
- Apr 24, 2015
- 2 min read
I've been reflecting on the last few years - my whole life if I’m honest - how my inner critic has had a major impact on my career choices.
Firstly, I've held myself back from doing things I've really wanted to do, because the gnarly inner critic has had me believing that I'm not good enough, not experienced enough, and not capable enough. Many potentially lost opportunities there.
Secondly, I’ve made choices based on what I thought I SHOULD do, not necessarily what I truly wanted, because otherwise what would people think? Gasp! Horror!
Thirdly, and in response to this powerful critic - I've gone and done shit to try and PROVE to myself that all this isn't true. You may ask – what’s wrong with going and doing a whole bunch of cool stuff? Well, I believe it’s all about what’s driving us. If we’re hell bent on proving to ourselves and the world that it’s not true that we’re not good/capable/experienced/effective enough, then we have an experience that’s driven by negative thinking – or fear. Imagine trying to achieve and enjoy the journey out of FEAR? And the problem with that, is your mind is on alert for evidence that you’re not good enough, capable, a failure. You can’t win.
So what’s the alternative? The alternative is making choices from a place of self confidence, love, and authenticity. I know that my experience doing a Masters degree would have felt and looked different for myself, my loved ones, my student colleagues and my supervisor, if I wasn’t so driven and fearful. I may have actually enjoyed it, and been able to read my thesis after I submitted it, rather than shelving it for 8 years! And then there was the advertising career, a job choice based on what I thought I SHOULD do, rather than what I really wanted to do, which was social work.
It’s these learnings that have inspired me to create Wholehearted Work, a programme I wish I had access to much earlier in my life. Wholehearted Work brings your inner critic out into the open where you can deal to the negativity, tell the truth about yourself, and make choices based on love not fear.
So what will it be? A career based on LOVE or FEAR?
Annie
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