Are you the one holding yourself back from the career you want?
“What if I fail?”
“Ah… but but what if you succeed?”
Are you sick of feeling unfulfilled, underpaid, and unhappy at your current job? You’re certainly not alone. According to a study done by Forbes, 53% of Americans are unhappy at work. That’s over half of the working population dreading their workday!
So, what’s stopping these unhappy workers from moving on and finding the career they really want?
The answer is fear.
If you’re one of the many people who would like to pursue the career they really want, there’s a good chance you’re hesitant to make a move. In this article, I’m going to talk about the fears that are holding you back and how you can push past them to create the career of your dreams.
1. Fear of the unknown
One of the most common and debilitating fears we have is the fear of the unknown — we don’t have a magic eight ball, so not knowing what the future holds can feel scary and intimidating.
The best way to quell your fear of the unknown is to plan ahead by taking things slow and strategically. Start by downloading my new free 28-day job search bootcamp where you’ll be given small, actionable steps to take each day that will bring you closer to your dream career — all while increasing your confidence, learning to tune into your innate power, and feeling well equipped to tackle your career fears.
2. Fear of change
Have you ever caught yourself thinking “I don’t like my job, but I know what to expect so it’s easier to stay than to make a big change”? We’ve all been there. Change brings up feelings of uncertainty that can make even the best of us feel uneasy.
As humans, we like familiarity. And that familiarity can hold us back from the career we really want. A new career will almost certainly change your routine — it’ll all be “new,” and that can be scary.
Rather than letting the fear of change debilitate you and stop you from making a move, find ways to embrace the fear. Take some time to think about other times or situations in your life where a major change happened and see that you were, in fact, okay when all was said and done.
Use your past experiences or the experiences of others who have walked a similar path to inspire you. Anticipate all the changes that are involved with a career shift and analyze how they will truly affect you. The more you become aware of the changes, the less scary they’ll feel and the better equipped you’ll be to handle them when the time comes.
3. Fear of rejection
This is a big fear for those looking to make a career move; no one wants to pursue their passion only to be met with, “We don’t think you’re the right person for the job”. Ouch.
We’ve all been rejected whether it was at the high school dance, by the college of your dreams, or by a job that you didn’t have the qualifications for — and it stings, every time.
The best way to eliminate the fear of being rejected is to accept that you will inevitably face some challenges along the way, but nothing that you can’t overcome.
Everyone has to start somewhere. If you’re holding yourself back from applying for the career you want because you don’t have the experience or qualifications required — change it! While I certainly encourage you to pursue your dream career, you have to be realistic and have a plan for how you’re going to get there.
Will you need to go back to school first? Will you have to leave your cushy management position for an entry-level position? When you’re realistic about what needs to happen before you can successfully land the career you really want, the fear of rejection will likely diminish.
4. Fear of judgment
The last fear that may be holding you back from the career you want is the fear of being judged. Do you have a big, bold career dream that you’re scared to even talk about because you’re afraid of what people will think? Whether it’s your mom, your best friend, or your coworker, every big decision you make is going to be met with some judgment.
There will always be nay-sayers, the ones that urge you to stay where you are because it’s “stable” or it’s in alignment with the path that they think you should be on. While it can be tough to be faced with judgment, especially from those who are close to you — you have to remember that their thoughts and opinions reflect their attitude and mindset, not yours.
To be brutally honest, most of the judgment you’ll be faced with comes out of jealousy and insecurity. It makes other people uncomfortable to see someone making a major move in a positive direction when they’re still stuck in their unhappy reality. Don’t let other people drag you down and discourage you from making the move that you know is right for you.
The best way to combat the fear of being judged is to find a community of like-minded people who have walked the path before you or are going through something similar. There are tons of networking and mastermind groups out there that will offer the support and encouragement you need to confidently pursue your passion. Perhaps consider hiring a career coach! They will absolutely be able to help you overcome your fears.
Recognize your fears and do it anyway!
“So please ask yourself, What would I do if I weren’t afraid? And then go do it.” — Sheryl Sandberg
Are you the one holding yourself back from the career you want? Then it’s time to recognize the fears that are keeping you stuck, learn how to push past them, and pursue your dream career.
If you haven’t done so already, download my new free 28-day job search bootcamp. This step by step process will teach you how to tune out the external noise and fears, tune into your intuition and innate power of manifestation, and land the job you’ve been waiting for your whole life.
