“Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it”
-George Santayana.
So much of what you need to know about the path to a better career future can be revealed in your history. Becoming who you really want to be means sifting through who you have been.
This history includes family work values, education, career development, unfulfilled dreams, successes and failures. When you revisit this past, you see patterns that have both supported and diverted you from the work that will fulfil you.
Challenges and setbacks you have faced may have led you to dig deep in the past to find strengths you did not imagine you had. It is very possible to transcend the patterns from your past that no longer work for you, by taking time to learn from them. Also your past achievements, successes and preferences can lead to renewed relevance and importance in the present. Some people even find it revealing to explore the work histories of their lineage - by researching or hearing about career choices your grandparents, parents, siblings, as well as teachers, mentors and bosses made - they all have the capacity to influence and affect our responses and choices. The key here is ‘Awareness’, the practice of learning from your past to effect positive change in your future career choices and pathways.
Our family influence can result in a wide spectrum of positive and negative outcomes. Ideally parents are completely supportive and encourage their child to find the career that truly fits them. Realistically some provide little guidance or direction which often leads to confusion. Others have strong expectations that do not fit their child at all, resulting in dissatisfaction when the person conforms, and family tension if they do not. Are you still trying to please your parents with your career choice, and making yourself miserable in the process? No matter what age you are or what position, your parents are probably influencing your career choices. Each of us needs to separate the ambitions of others from our own. Sometimes these are aligned but often, there is conflict.
Here is an example. A client was asked:
What makes me happy: Work that is creative and has a lot of variety.
What my parents taught me: Work is work and you have to be practical.
Following his parents’ advice, ignoring his own intuition, led to this client getting a degree in accounting and a job doing peoples’ taxes which he found painful and tedious. He ended up with an array of stress related symptoms. After working on himself and exploring how his parents had influenced his decisions and plans, he made a positive transition into studying an advanced degree in industrial design with the intention to work in creating recycled products. Still working as an accountant to get him through school, the work is less stressful now that he has a new purpose. In addition, he came to appreciate some of his parent’s work attitudes he decided to take carry forward with him in a very positive way - such as be on time and do a bit more than is expected. Find a mentor at work who will teach you the ropes.
So, remember whilst being aware of your past and learning from it, it is just as important to embrace the lessons that have worked as it is to transcend the patterns that have not.
To help you start this awareness, try asking yourself these questions:
What dreams did I have as a kid?
What were my favourite courses of study in high school or college?
Think over your work history. When were you most satisfied and dissatisfied, and why?
What is the most enjoyable part of your current work?
For more information for a happier future career path, contact Melanie Blackwell, Global Programme Director at Bright Livelihoods on 056-1702166 or melanie@brightlivelihoods.com.