In general, a decision that stems from any emotion is usually not as sound as one that is based on fact and reason, and perhaps most importantly, your values.
Have you had that feeling? The pressure is on. Friends and family are waiting. The bills are mounting. Your self-judgement grows. You finally chose - the car, the apartment, the job. But instead of relief, you feel queasy, uneasy. Thinking it is "only nerves", you move ahead ... but the feeling doesn't go away, instead it intensifies and begins to affect other parts of your life.
Can you name that feeling?
Fear.
When fear begins to control your decision-making abilities, you may notice that not only is your work off-kilter, but your personal life is as well. This occurs when your fear of the future you've chosen becomes so debilitating that you're not able to focus on anything else, even when you try.
This is true when you make career decisions out of fear. Sure, the pressures may be mounting to make a choice, but there are ways to ensure that fear is not the driver.
Take time to identify one or two values that are deal-breakers for you. Those about which you are unwilling to compromise, and let those values guide your decision-making. Becoming aware of your values is the key to making wise choices in all aspects of your life, from picking a partner to buying a house to moving forward with a job. Explore options that work with as many of your values as possible. While you may not get everything, staying in your value zone can ease your fear.
Once you've identified your values, schedule some informational interviews with those in the field you're considering. During these interviews, explore if their career paths jives with your values.
Bounce ideas off of friends or colleagues more experienced than you so that you can learn, and people who are your peers or colleagues who share your successes and failures. Coaching is also useful to accelerate the process of evaluating which career options fit with your interests, values, personality, and skills.
It’s time to let go of the fear, and be driven by your values. You got this.
Barbara
Organizations by Design
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