Career Funk? Tip For Removal
J.T. O'Donnell
Founder & CEO, Work It DAILY | Board of Directors, McCoy | Career & Professional Development | Job Search | HR & Recruiting | Employer Branding | Recruitment Marketing | Talent Management | Executive Coaching
Deep "career funk" can be hard to get out of. The NST (Negative Self Talk) that dominates the brain makes it challenging to free oneself from thoughts of doom and gloom.
When working with those who are overwhelmed and in a deep crisis of confidence, I see first-hand how NST can be all-consuming. I'm their coach – the one person they can unload all their fears and frustrations on without being judged. In these cases, there's a technique I often walk clients through as a way to help them disrupt their thoughts and potentially give them some inspiration to keep going.
TIP: Step Out of Your Career Story & Rewrite the Ending
When you are feeling like you want to curl up on the couch, lick your wounds, and cry your eyes out about how bad your career situation is (I've been there), try the following exercise in visualization:
Step 1: Close your eyes and imagine you are drifting up into the air so you are looking down at yourself on the couch.
Step 2: Now, imagine you're watching yourself like you watch a movie. What you would want to see happen next? Do you, A) lie there and not make any more effort, continuing to be hurt and stressed? Or, B) get up and resolve to go on and succeed?
Step 3: Then, ask yourself, "Which ending would you want to watch?" Which one would make you proud and happy?
Sometimes we have to look at our lives as an observer, a voyeur, and use that perspective to say:"What strong, brave steps do I need to take to make a happy ending a reality?"
Most of us want the career happy ending. But, until the Career Fairy Godmother comes along and waves her magic wand to fix our careers, we are responsible for creating our destiny - and just like any good fairytale, it requires getting through some really, really tough times.
Don't let career funk win. Try the technique above. If it doesn't work, keep searching for something that will. Your story doesn't have to be over until you get the ending you want.
PS - For those who don't like this type of advice. I realize this doesn't work for everyone. It's just one example of what you can try to do to fight back the feelings of negativity - I never said it was the only way.
What have you seen work when it comes to getting out of a career funk? Share your constructive comments below!
If you want to read more of what I've written, check out my articles on Inc.com.
P.S. - First time reading my posts? Thanks for taking the time to stop by! Not only do I write for Linkedin, but I'm also founder of a popular career advice site,CAREEREALISM,and currently run the career coaching program,CareerHMO. I hope you'll check them both out!
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CAREEREALISM’s Founder, J.T. O’Donnell is a nationally syndicated career expert and workplace consultant who helps American workers of all ages find greater professional satisfaction. Her book, CAREEREALISM: The Smart Approach to a Satisfying Career, outlines her highly successful career-coaching methodology. Purchase her e-book of CAREEREALISM for only $9.95 by clicking here !
Image credit: Shutterstock.com
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8 年As usual, thanks for a great read. I find that if you just focus on putting one foot in front of the other sooner or later you have moved on. Don't dwell on it, act on it, actually do something physical even if it is just putting one foot in front of the other. You know what they say, "it's harder to hit a moving target."
Elevating EX & CX. Scaling businesses multidimensionally by translating vision to reality - The Agile Way
9 年Get away from "negative arena" do what you enjoy the most or simply take a long walk and return with vengeance to start afresh!
SVP Patient Integration at MEDx eHealthCenter.BV
9 年Motorcycle, gym, gun range; and I care infinitely less
Eduprenuer| National Coordinator| Recruiter| Funds Raiser| Events Management| Counselor| Admission Consultant| Liasonor
9 年Nice post
Smart Infrastructure and Cybersecurity CNI subject matter professional.
9 年Nice post, I agree, sometimes if not all the time, we need to practice "being the witness." Only then can we obtain more clarity and see the bigger picture. Its not easy though. Once negativity sets in, we dont even interview quite right.