How to get over being totally indecisive about choosing your career path
/Do you feel overwhelmed by the myriad of career options available to you? Are you afraid of making the wrong choice? Do you know you want to pursue something you're passionate about but aren't so sure what that is yet?
On a good day, it feels quite liberating to be on the doorstep of your next phase of life with a ton of different possibilities lay before you. On a bad day, the weight of your impending decision weighs heavy on the fate of your life.
Like Alice (in Wonderland), you feel as though you're about to walk through an unfamiliar door into a crazed world and life is never going to be the same again.
Dun, dun, duuuunn...
Maybe, maybe not. Regardless, I get it...I've been there (though, not literally to Lewis Carrol's Wonderland, of course).
So, how do we take action and choose what to do next without falling prey to a pattern of seriousness, doubt and fear?
Well, let's take a look at a few new ways of thinking and steps to take that will combat that.
I'm going to share 5 different ways that will get you unstuck and choosing your next move from a new and different place.
1. Keep It Light
Are you breathing? Did you just get chased by a Bandersnatch? No? (If you don't know what I'm referring to...you really need to watch Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland).
You're ok. That's a good start.
'Bad days', as described, are as a result of looking at your future from a place of fear. This is always characterised by a heavy weightiness that makes life seem 'oh so serious'. There's nothing wrong with this, it's just not the most desirable.
Notice when this happens, get present, breathe and give space for your fears to be heard. Maybe, journal or write about them. It will certainly help to lighten the load and not be driven by them.
When you realise that you're ok, those thoughts will soon dissipate.
One step further, consciously choose to look at your life from a different place. Personally, I like to choose my life from a place of learning and adventure :)
Consider: What might choosing your career path from that place look like?
2. Take Action On Your Curiosities
You don't have to know whether you will like a job YET or not and you'll never find your passion just by thinking about it!
So, I invite you to take action.
Action step: Write down 5 career paths you're most CURIOUS about currently and take ACTION with the one that piques your interest the most. It could be to volunteer, get some work experience, an internship or even, a part/full time job within the field.
That should get the ball rolling!
NB. Work experience is not just a CV/resume enhancing decoration, it's for YOU. Careers services are also a good place for resources and most schools/universities have one. You're welcome :) !
3. Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway
You're about to embark upon something new and if you happen to be a recent graduate (especially if you're a recent graduate), I imagine the 'next step' to have been more clearly paved for you in the past (school exams, then college or university and whatever goals you had set there).
Now, it seems different. It's not so clear and even if you had decided upon a career, the path isn't so clearly demarcated. It's the unknown. Unchartered territory is uncomfortable, scary and our mammalian brains really don't like it.
Want to know a secret? You're ok.
The trick is to be aware of the discomfort and embrace it. Since there's likely some action oriented fear present, I'd advise you to get familiar with the mantra, 'Feel the fear and do it anyway'.
Here's a book on the subject:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Feel-Fear-Anyway-Indecision-Confidence/dp/0091907071
4. Know That You Can Change Your Mind: The Power Of Choice Vs Overwhelming Choices
Picking a career today can be completely overwhelming. We are spoilt for choice. My dad always used to tell me that getting my degree was very important because it would give me more options. However, knowing how I am with a big restaurant menu, I wasn't too sure.
The beauty of picking a career is that you can always change course (restaurant type or otherwise) even if you're midway through.
It may sound simple but it's easy for us to forget and fear being trapped down a chosen path forever. Once you choose a career direction, you are NOT committed for life. I know several people who have had multiple careers throughout their lifetime (and successful ones, at that). If, at some point, you want to change, you can!
Furthermore, choosing SOMETHING...in other words, EMPOWERING A CHOICE, is better than making no choice at all (man, think how hungry you're be)!
5. Put Your Big Girl/Big Boy Pants on
You're no longer an 'in between lecture napper', 'spooner', sleep in till 3pm, party all weekend undergrad...
It's time to put your Big Person pants on and get to it.
No need to fret, there's still PLENTY of room to play. Just in a different way...
So, trust yourself, go with your gut and self-reflect...are there any dreams you've stuffed away?
Yes? Want to make it happen?
Go on! Grab life by the horns, it's waiting for you!
Rounding it up: Keeping it light by acknowledging your fears, taking action in spite of them, getting curious and making a choice (even if it turns out to be the wrong one) should have you overriding the stagnation and indecision.
If not, maybe the indecision is really about the fact that you have a dream or career idea stuffed away for fear it's not possible. Take a look. You'll be surprised at how many of us forget what we really want when the time to pursue it arrives.
Interested in having a high level of support to set you on your way? Message me for a free consultation over here: Free Consultation
