What Switching Careers Actually Feels Like
They all tell you to believe in yourself.
Once you’ve spent your whole life — or at least a good portion of it — clinging to a fully developed, got-plans-until-I-retire idea, it can be quite hard to suddenly find yourself wanting to part with it. Sometimes, though, it really does just happen and, without really knowing why, you have realized that the path you’ve invested it all in, the job that you could have sworn was made to measure for you, might, in fact, not be quite the right fit.
The reasons vary so wildly — and some of them are buried so deep within us it may take years until we consciously acknowledge them — that it would be a futile gesture to try to include them all in here. However, don’t for one minute mistake this plethora of reasons for a sense of isolation: you are not the first one to go through this and by God, you will not be the last either.
Lost at sea
It is so common you may at the time mistake it for cliché. Looking back, though, you’ll want to kick your own shin for having been so unnecessarily hard on yourself.
Big changes bring about big feelings and a jarring sense of being adrift often develops following decisions as drastic as a change in careers. Minimising the effort and devaluing all the work you’ve put into it will only contribute to this image of a directionless future; by doing so, you are taking away the rewarding feeling you get for having accomplished something this significant, which, in turn, is what actually keeps you moving.
Expect to tread water for a little while until you have figured out what your next step will be. Some people make these decisions with the next part of their life already fully planned out. Some others, not so much. There is no correct way to approach any step in life and thinking so will only hinder your development in and excitement for this new stage.
The worries will keep you up at night
Doubting every decision as we go along isn’t new for the most self-conscious of us but you mustn’t let the doubt interfere with your progress. The decision has been made, the wheels have started turning, everything is in motion and you’re either on or off the train.
Craving reassurance when dealing with such an overwhelming change is only normal. In the beginning you’ll ask for it of everyone around, everyone whose opinion means a little something to you — heaps of validation won’t be enough. In time, however, you’ll come to realise that the only reassurance that will really do the trick, the only approval that’ll get you out and about, is your own.
“One day, I just stopped being my own worst critic and became my number one fan.” — Sandeep Johal
Questioning your calls doesn’t make them wrong, it simply gives you more space to analyse them and try to understand them from difference perspectives. Wanting people to tell you you’ve done well for yourself is a primitive desire and, thus, nothing to ashamed of. What is worth bearing in mind, though, is that you are the one in charge, the one who makes it all happen. There is a time for contemplative reflection and ego-massaging — and then there’s a time for trusting yourself.
‘Change is always good’
People mean well but this will start sounding like a hammer over your head after a while. Those closest to you wish for nothing but to see you succeed and so they will try forcing as much positive encouragement down your throat as they physically can.
You’ll find yourself feeling like all everyone can come up with are variations of: “It’s totally normal to feel this way in life”; “What you’re doing is totally okay.” Sometimes you’ll even get the occasional, “I wish I had your courage to just start all over again!”. Daunting as it may sound, no matter how close to reeling out of control you feel yourself, the important thing is to keep reminding yourself why you’ve done this.
The way to keep yourself grounded is to always keep in mind the goals you set out for yourself, what it is you wanted out of this change. Other people’s expectations will be the death of you if that is the only finishing line you can see at the end of it all. You have to give yourself time and patience and respect your interests and passions enough to give them a good whirl until something falls into place.
“I’m only going to give my ideas full respect if I actually go and try them all.” — Vicky Dain
It’s not the easiest road to go down but, when done with enough care, it’s easily the most rewarding.
