The toughest part of any major life change is believing that it’s even possible. It sometimes seems better to be forced into change, because then we’re less likely to be constantly looking back and wondering if we’re making the right choice. For example, when your husband or wife leaves or you simply lose your job, life is telling you that it’s time for something different. Few of us are natural risk-takers, that’s why we’ve remained in the same marriage or career for years, if not decades.
Perhaps you’ve recently joined the ranks of the millions who have experienced a divorce or lay off at work, or you just can’t take another day at that job that feels like an 8 to 5 way of dying. Don’t despair! Though it may seem like the end of your world, there are many valuable resources at your fingertips to ease your fears and help you find a much better fit for your future.
Working through your fears
I hired an amazing career counselor a few years ago when I was stuck in my very limited vision of what I could “be” next. Katy Piotrowski has assisted hundreds of clients in their 40s, 50s and 60s in the throes of career change. All knew that it was time for a major shift in their career and their perspective, but were uncertain if they could muster the courage to follow through on something so risky so late in life.
Katy helped me through one of the toughest transitions of my life. At age 50 I desperately wanted to move on to a new career. My upbringing had taught me that work is hard and unpleasant and something you just had to get through. It took a few months for Katy to convince me that I should at least try to do exactly what I wanted. Then, if it didn’t work out, I still had some solid new job experience, and I could move on to other options.
I turned out to be one of Katy’s favorite success stories! I love my new career and found I had lots of natural skills and talents for the work. Her job was to help me suspend for a brief time my limited beliefs about what was possible, so I could pursue the dream I had always nurtured but was too frightened to follow through on.
So, if you’re facing a major career change right now, you might want to take a look at Katy’s new book: The Career Coward’s Guide to Changing Careers. In the book, Katy talks you through the many scary stages of changing your job and your perspective on life. You can do this if you really, really, really want it!
