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Wes Richards posted an update 7 years, 10 months ago
I’m working this Thursday and doubt I’ll make it to the meeting but want to brainstorm and share some judgments and stories I hold around work: My job is not good enough to be considered a career. My job is a reflection of my values and as such, my worthiness. I am not safe without my job. I’m not supposed to enjoy my work. I am not qualified for any other job. I don’t have enough education to have a career. I’m not competent or confident in my ability to successfully change careers. I should be happy just to have a job. I would be homeless if I lost my job. My career and my purpose must be aligned. I need a job or career that limits my exposure to people. I can’t have a career helping others until I’ve healed myself fully. My job is looked down upon by others. I am no better than what I do for a living. It is selfish to risk my job and my family’s livelihood to pursue an uncertain dream. I’ve invested too much time and pain into this job to leave the security, the pension, the benefits, and the stability. My work is pointless and helps nobody. I need to rely on an employer to provide an income for me. I could never live up to the demands of providing a service for others in exchange for money they pay me. I’m not smart enough or good enough to employ myself. Besides a good work ethic, I have nothing to offer potential employers. I lack the courage and curiousity to explore other opportunities. I am more afraid of change than I am curious to learn. I have too much to lose by doing what makes me happy. I must know all the steps necessary to take to get my dream job and have the confidence that I can complete them. I don’t know what career would make me happy. I’m afraid to be happy. I need my major life decisions to come fully guaranteed. A part of me still doesn’t believe the universe has my back. I can retire in 9 years so my life and happiness can wait until then. Jobs are supposed to be stressful…. This is by no means a complete list. Time permitting, I’m sure I could go on for quite a while. It’s not necessarily that I believe all these statements completely but there is varying degrees of truth in all of them. And although it seems like a lot of beliefs and judgments to overcome and forgive, I’m looking forward to the process.
So clearly there is a lot of story here around career. First step is going to be the decision to let the story go. This is a biggie because it’s the ultimate choice between empowerment versus disempowerment. I think what’s hard for people is that it’s not just about saying you want empowerment but then it’s about backing empowerment with your actions. Action doesn’t have to mean leaving your job, but it may mean working on a different solution. It will be good for you to listen to the replay and see what you can work through. I’m here to fully support you in truly letting go what you want to let go. As you know, it’s a process not an event.
The one that jumps out at me is that you can’t have a job helping others until you’ve completely healed yourself. I’ve caught myself in that one many times. If we are forever healing from something, how could we ever be fully healed? It’s a trap we can’t escape from unless we shift our mindset around it.