When you are first presented with a health challenge, your first priority will no doubt be to rest and recover your strength. In fact, this may not be a choice but a necessity to allow you to get back to living life. How long this takes will of course depend on your unique situation. Whether you are facing a sudden, unexpected crisis or have had to navigate a condition for some time, navigating a healing journey can take time and focus. It requires patience and determination.
However, there will come a time (possibly even as you are recovering), when you will have to deal with the implications of what has happened and how it will impact life as you knew it prior to your challenge. It is likely that you will either need or want to reconsider how you have been earning a living.
Overwhelm is to be expected. The pressure of responsibility and obligation may be weighing heavily upon you. Not just in how you will look after yourself but possibly those who look to you to look after them. It is my hope that I can give a little insight in how to approach this time by providing you with some tips you may find useful as you begin this process.
Give Yourself Grace
Be kind and patient with yourself.
Whatever you are feeling in relation to your heath and career is totally understandable and needs to be felt. You are experiencing and navigating a major life change. You may experience anger, sadness and frustration as you question why this is happening to you. I highly recommend journalling at this time if possible. If this resonates with you, then I encourage you to write freely without editing yourself. Let your emotions be felt and expressed. Time in solitude to cry, vent and fume is needed in order to take stock and move forward. Forgive yourself for whatever has brought you to this juncture. You have done the best you could with whatever information you had up until now.
Seeking counselling whether with a professional or a trusted family member or friend is also really useful. It allows you to get out of your head and get perspective. Sometimes we overthink and over analyse. Speaking with someone who has your best interests at heart can often be just what we need to regain equilibrium.
Consider that life is happening for you
As you begin to feel and move through your emotions, consider that what has happened may actually be a precious gift. A chance to move ahead and live your life differently and in a way that will serve you better from this point on. It is a great time to ask yourself some questions.
- Have your choices thus far been your own or ‘forced’ on you by the expectations of others/society?
- Could this be a chance for you to address long held limiting beliefs and even the core paradigm to how you see life?
- What would you like to do differently from now on?
- How would you like your life to look from this point onwards?
- Is there something that you’ve always wanted to explore that has lain dormant in you?
- What simple changes could you make day by day to ensure your wellbeing is no longer compromised?
- Who could help you with that?
Aim for Clarity
Depending on what your existing career is you may be able to make simple shifts that allow you the freedom you need to make more time for your wellbeing. You may need to reduce your working hours, work remotely or step into a job share situation. Reach out for support within your current workplace if it is available to you and start to have those discussions.
If you know that you will need to change careers altogether, then accept and embrace the fact that this may take time and experimentation. Start to explore what is possible for you. To begin this process, take some time to get clear on what you want and need.
A great way to do this is to list the things you don’t want/like about your current job/career and then create a list of what you do want/like in contrast to this so you can focus on that. This will give you somewhere to begin from as you start to make decisions about your career.
Here is an example of this I created when considering how I wanted to work moving forward:
My ideal Career So, what do I want?
| Contrast – List the things you don’t like | Clarity – List the things you would like |
| Working full time (38 hour week) | Part time hours (no more than 20 hours per week) |
| Set schedule | Flexible schedule |
| Working in set location | To work from home / elsewhere |
| Being on my feet all day | Tasks that I can complete sitting down |
| Working inside all day | Time outdoors |
| Monotonous, mundane tasks | A mix of activity and using my creativity |
| Being micro-managed | Working independently |
| Set hourly rate | Great renumeration |
| No choice who I work with | Collaborating with like-minded people |
| Constrained by employer | Self-employed |
N.B. The Clarity through Contrast Worksheet is taken from the book: Law of Attraction – The Science of Attracting More of What you Want and Less of What You Don’t Want
Commit to Action
Once you have a bit more understanding of where you’re headed, make a start and begin to try things on for size. Accept that you only think and believe what you currently know. Do not assume anything or decide something is not worth pursuing if it is outside your current experience.
Get in and do some research about areas you may be interested in. Reach out and discuss the realities of a career that interests you by interviewing someone who is currently working in that field. Find out what you need to do in order to make a go of it. Maybe you need to do some further study or gain some new skills.
Take advantage of services within your local area that can assist you with this. In this age of the world wide web there is information at your fingertips to give you direction. There are free and paid services that can assist you. Here are a few to consider but bear in mind that your own networks may assist you with this in the area that you live. A great place to start is the Human Resources (or Talent Acquisition) department of your workplace, employment agencies, recruitment firms or jobsites.
- https://www.seek.com.au/career-advice/explore-careers
- https://www.training.com.au/ed/complete-guide-changing-careers/
- https://www.tafecourses.com.au/careers-australia/
- https://www.careershifters.org
Most of all, be willing to try something new or follow a passion you’ve held for a long time. We live in an age where it is easier than ever to start a business. Entrepreneurship is certainly an option worth exploring. There really is no limit to what you can achieve if you put your mind to it.
Be willing to invest in Yourself
As you navigate the road of career change recognize that the journey will not be easy and will take considerable resources. Whether you simply shift gears and make changes to your current conditions or whether you begin to explore a whole new career and way of working, it will mean reinventing yourself and being willing to begin from scratch in some instances.
This means investing your precious time and money as needed and your budget allows. Whether it be further study, investing in a business venture or volunteering in an area of interest, it is worth it. I highly recommend exploring your options carefully while also using your intuition.
My personal experience led me to self-employment, re-training, a different role within my existing sector and experimenting with online business. It has taken me 5 years to find the path I am now taking and every step along the way assisted me and prepared me for what I am doing now. There really was no mistakes or failure, just lots of learning experiences that became building blocks that led me to what was waiting for me.
Please don’t misunderstand. It has been really tough at times. I have been disheartened and felt like giving up. In the end, I chose to keep putting one foot in front of the other, was willing to do things differently and gave myself time: trusting that life was supporting me as I courageously kept showing up for myself.
In the end only you will know what is right for you. Believe in yourself and don’t be afraid to try things on for size. Finding something new that allows you to nurture yourself and celebrate the joy of being alive is so worthwhile. This precious life of yours is worth living In a way that is just right for you. There is a worId of possibilities out there. Go and explore it.
To your wellbeing always,
Katrin
P.S. Please remember you do not need to take this journey alone or unsupported. If you’d like someone to keep you accountable and guide you along the way, I am here for you. Check out how I can help – here.
Your Wellbeing Matters Coaching 