How Acceptance Can Boost Your Career

If you pay close attention, you might notice a curious phenomenon: the more you resist something, the more it seems to grow. Whether it's a bad habit, a negative thought pattern, an overwhelming deadline, or a flood of emotions, your attempts to push it away or ignore it often only make it more persistent.

Resistance can actually empower what you’re trying to avoid. Carl Jung, the renowned psychologist who explored the depths of the unconscious mind, once said, “What you resist not only persists but will grow in size.

Essentially, what you resist will persist and often grow stronger. This principle is rooted in the idea that resistance creates tension and keeps unwanted thoughts, feelings, or experiences at the forefront of your mind. It’s like shining a spotlight on these issues, making them seem larger and more intimidating than they really are.

Consider the mind as an iceberg, with two parts: the conscious mind, which is above the surface, and the unconscious mind, which lies beneath. The conscious mind is where you make choices and control your thoughts, while the unconscious mind is a swirling mass of emotions, memories, and primal urges.

When you resist something—a fear, a thought, or a habit—you push it into the unconscious. However, the unconscious mind doesn’t understand denial. It doesn’t distinguish between resistance and focus. By resisting, you actually give more power to the issue in your unconscious, creating a mental tug-of-war that drains your energy and impedes your growth.

Think of it like a child having a tantrum. The more attention, even negative, you give them, the more intense their behavior becomes. Similarly, resisting something fuels its presence in your unconscious, turning it into a major mental obstacle.

In a professional context, resistance can manifest in various ways: reluctance to accept feedback, avoidance of challenging tasks, or denial of personal limitations. This resistance not only hampers your progress but can also create a barrier between you and your career goals. For instance, if you resist constructive criticism, you miss valuable insights that could help you improve. Similarly, avoiding challenging projects out of fear of failure prevents you from developing new skills and advancing your career.

Jung highlighted that the internal conflict between the conscious and unconscious mind is a significant force in your life. It influences your decisions, emotions, and even your overall well-being. In the workplace, unresolved internal conflicts or fears can lead to stress, decreased productivity, and stagnation.

So, what’s the solution? Jung advocates for acceptance. Instead of fighting against what you’re resisting, acknowledge it without judgment. Let it come and go naturally. By accepting it, you prevent it from gaining strength through denial and detach your emotional energy from it.

In your professional life, acceptance means recognizing and addressing your weaknesses and areas of discomfort. Instead of avoiding difficult conversations with colleagues or shying away from projects that push your boundaries, face these challenges head-on. By accepting feedback, acknowledging your skill gaps, and confronting your fears, you create opportunities for growth and development.

With resistance acknowledged, you can then observe and understand it, allowing you to move forward rather than being driven by it. Resistance is ultimately a losing battle. By addressing it directly, you can prevent it from growing and taking control.

Ignoring or suppressing your professional challenges only makes them more intense and persistent. Instead, make time to confront and address these issues. Whether it’s seeking mentorship, engaging in skill development, or tackling a difficult project, dealing with these challenges directly can prevent them from escalating and stalling your progress.

As Jung said, “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” Accepting and exploring your professional challenges can lead to significant growth and advancement. For instance, addressing your reluctance to delegate tasks can enhance your leadership skills. Embracing constructive criticism can lead to better performance and career advancement.

By releasing resistance, you create mental space for what truly matters. You become proactive rather than reactive, focusing on meaningful aspects of your professional journey. Ask yourself whether resisting is helping or hindering you, and choose to move with the flow rather than against it. This shift in approach can make your professional journey smoother and more fulfilling.

Jung observed that people often go to great lengths to avoid facing their own inner realities. However, you are not defined by your shadows. As Jung said, “I am not what happened to me; I am what I choose to become.” Your power lies in how you respond to your unconscious mind. Turn inward, confront your inner conflicts, and choose to embrace the opportunities for professional growth that come with acceptance