I Have No Idea What I Am Going to Do??! – The Sinking Feeling
Have you ever felt that hopeless before in your career? Can I be honest….I have. It is a sinking feeling and you begin to doubt everything. Loss of a job or changing career directions can be an emotional time. The first thing you lose is self confidence. You begin to wonder if you were just on a “good run” and had a few years where “things just clicked.”
Now, life feels much different. Maybe you are not exactly certain what your unique skills are or what strengths you possess that can truly add value to an organization. You grow envious of others because they just seem to know what they are all about while the rest of us are on a quest and a journey.
I read a quote about a year ago that has really stuck with me. Dan Miller of 48 Days To the Work You Love said, “A job search is 80% inward.” The point he was trying to make is that we can spend way too much time focused outward on our job search that we never take the time to look inward first.
There is a classic book written in the early 1900’s called “Acres of Diamonds.” You can read the full version online for free. It was written by Russell Conwell, the Founder of Temple University. In the book he tells a story of a man who strongly desires to be wealthy. He was reading stories about ordinary people becoming extremely wealthy in the Gold Rush Era. He then decided to sell his land to his neighbor and go on a pursuit for wealth.
He spent his whole life and resources and died with nothing.
Meanwhile, a few years later by accident his neighbor discovered diamonds buried on this old man’s land. Wealth was under his nose all along. The moral of the story? What you really want in life is buried within you. The truth is it is not the extra $2.02 raise or the next new company that is going to bring you the happiness in life.
It is discovering your unique gifts and abilities and living your life using them to bring value to others.
Looking internal means asking questions like:
1. What are my unique gifts and abilities?
2. What are my natural strengths that come easy for me but can be a challenge for others?
3. What would I be the most energized and fulfilled doing?
I believe too many of us see work as a necessary evil instead of a higher calling. I have a question for you that literally stopped me in my tracks when I heard it for the first time:
You will spend more time at work then you will in all of the other activities combined (family, friends, church, vacation), shouldn’t you at least enjoy what you do?
Especially if you are out of work at the moment, you should take some time to assess your skills and strengths and get clarity on what you are all about. When you understand where your true strengths lie, things just begin to click. It will give you confidence in the interview and land you the job.
Are you still lost?
Here are a few resources that can help you:
2. CareerPath by CareerBuilder
3. Path 101
Take some time to discover your strengths it will energize you and renew your passion in life.
