Jiminy Cricket. From friend to foe

Jiminy cricket is usually the a symbol of moral guidance and conscience in popular culture. In the 1883 novel “The adventures of Pinocchio” (Carlo Collodi) Jiminy cricket is appointed by the Blue Fairy to serve as the official conscience and guide to the novel's protagonist, Pinocchio. He serves as a moral compass for Pinocchio, advising him on making good choices and distinguishing right from wrong.

We all have our Jiminy cricket. In some cases, through the years, he turned into a distorted version of himself. He turned from friend to foe.

Listen to the distorted voice

What before was a good advice now seems more a painful, frustrated, angry voice.

Instead of encouraging you to pursue opportunities for growth, a distorted Jiminy Cricket might instill fear of failure, leading you to avoid taking necessary risks for advancement.

Rather than supporting your aspirations and dreams, a distorted Jiminy Cricket could discourage ambition or convince you that your goals are unattainable, stifling your growth.

Instead of empathetically listening to a colleague's perspective, a distorted Jiminy Cricket might advise you to interrupt and correct them immediately. This could lead to you coming across as dismissive and overly direct, damaging the relationship and hindering effective communication.

Identify the distortion when it occurs

Recognizing when your internal mentor has shifted from a friend to a foe is the first step towards professional change. Signs of this distortion include persistent self-doubt, an overwhelming fear of failure, and anger towards yourself. Understanding that these thoughts are not representing? you is crucial in breaking free from their hold.

From theory to practice

Confronting the distorted Jiminy Cricket requires a conscious effort to challenge negative thoughts and behaviors replacing them with actions and thoughts lifting you up instead of dragging you down.

This is the most difficult part where Jiminy Cricket will try to convince you that his way is the best way and that you are making a mistake by not following his advices. You will be tempted to follow him again because he is your friend, after all.

Facts vs. Thoughts

What is pivotal in this phase is to make a distinction between what are the facts and what are the?thoughts whispered by Jiminy Cricket.

Taking as an example the 2 scenarios of career growth and impact on colleagues the distinction of facts and thoughts sounds like this.

Fact: Taking risks is often necessary for personal and professional development.

Thought: Avoidance of risks may stem from a desire to protect oneself from potential failure or embarrassment.

Fact: Interrupting and correcting others can be perceived as dismissive and may damage relationships.

Thought: Interrupting colleagues may stem from impatience or a belief that one's perspective is superior.

Go into action

Now you do know that Jiminy Cricket turned into a foe and you have a clear distinction between facts and Jiminy’s thoughts, it’s time for action. Some suggestions:

• Create a list of potential opportunities for growth in your career or personal life, breaking them down into manageable steps. By breaking larger goals into smaller tasks, you can approach them with less fear and more confidence.
• Reflect on past instances where taking risks led to personal or professional growth, jotting down lessons learned and skills acquired. This practice helps reinforce the notion that failure is a natural part of the learning process.
• Practice active listening during conversations with colleagues, focusing on understanding their perspectives fully before responding. Use techniques such as paraphrasing and asking clarifying questions to demonstrate empathy and engagement.
• Cultivate patience and self-awareness by pausing before interrupting or correcting others. Take a moment to consider the impact of your words on the conversation and the relationship with your colleague.

What’s your take on your Jiminy Cricket?

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts." - Winston Churchill

About Elena

Elena added the role of career reinvention coach to her 2 decades of pricing and forecasting roles in American and Japanese corporations. Today, through her 3 programs, she coaches career conflicted top-level professionals reinventing themselves and find great fulfilment in their work.

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