Feeling stuck in a rut? Curious what your career trajectory can look like? Sometimes we find ourselves unhappy in a job but scared to make the first step because the unknown can be uncomfortable. Although you may not have all the answers yet, the exciting news is that you can make changes. It’s your life . . . you are in the driver’s seat!
As a career counselor, I could write out all the steps that you should take next to pivot your career. You know what I’m about to say. Update your resume, utilize your network, and search for openings on multiple job banks. Yes, those steps are helpful and necessary. But how can you successfully make progress on those steps if you aren’t sure what you’re looking for?
Proverbs 29:18 (KJV) reminds us, “where there is no vision, the people perish.” First, we need to start casting a vision for your career.
Let’s Get Creative
Create Your Dream Life
Close your eyes for a minute. Start to let your mind wander and explore what your life could look like. Think about these questions:
- Where are you living?
- What time do you wake up each day?
- What does your morning routine look like?
- How do you get to work each day?
- How many hours would you like to work each day?
- What are you wearing to work?
- What are you doing for work?
- Working with people?
- Working with technology?
- Working behind the scenes in a logistics role?
- Working with data?
- What makes you happy about your job?
- Who are you working with?
- Who are you serving?
- What type of income would you like to be earning?
- What does your office environment look like?
- Is it at home?
- At an office building?
- Traveling?
- A laptop in the community coffee shop?
- What time of day/evening is it when you wrap up your workday?
- What does your evening routine look like?
The Power of Visualization
This example of visualization can be powerful in helping you cast a vision. Before I left working full-time in higher education, I had the opportunity to do this exercise with co-workers. As a busy mom of two young kids and working full-time, I was always exhausted trying to juggle it all. I longed for more balance and more quality time with my kids. I did not want to not miss the little moments while they were still young. No joke, within two years of casting my vision and writing out my visualization, I was creating the life that I wanted. God knew the desires of my heart along with the vision that I wanted to create. He opened doors for my husband to advance his career while I stepped into a part-time role. As a result, I found balance as a mom and counselor.
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. – Psalm 37: 4 (NLT)
Connecting The Dots
While teaching a career planning course at the undergraduate level, one of my favorite activities with the students was walking them through an exercise called the Wandering Map. Similar to a brain dump, the Wandering Map activity starts with unfiltered brainstorming. Katharine Brooks, author of You Majored In What? outlines this exercise in her book. She guides readers to answer a series of prompts to help the creative juices flow and make connections within one’s life. As a result, they are able to see how things may connect to future career plans.
Make an Internal Investment
While externally you may be feeling stuck or frustrated over your working environment and looking for a change, shift your focus to your own growth plan. Make an investment in yourself. Hire that resume guru to give you more confidence about your resume. Find a professional mentor, or seek out career counseling to explore your career trajectory. I can help you leverage your skillset, identify your values, and gain momentum in your career pivot to align with how God has wired you for the purpose that He has for you.
The Lord has made everything for its own purpose. – Proverbs 16:4 (NASB)
Written by Heidi Sawyer, MS, LPC
Roswell Location
heidi@restorationcounselingatl.com, ext 116
Heidi works with adolescents, ages 14 and up, and individuals. She assists with college and career exploration and planning, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, spiritual issues, grief, life transitions, goal setting, and self-confidence challenges.