"Because you can't pack your life into a box."
midlife career transition
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"Because you can't pack your life into a box." midlife career transition |
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Please visit my new website for career and business coaching and resources. Intuition blocked? Question authority! from Your Intuitive Move I never pasted a "Question Authority" sticker on my car in the sixties, but I could use one now. Authority figures can be particularly strong blocks to intuition because it is easy to say, "They must know! After all, they're certified," or, "they have credentials." Authorities can block intuition by claiming expertise. They may even say things like, "Subjectively you feel pain but objectively you do not." A well-regarded career counselor told me three years ago, "You can't have a business over the phone. People have to see you before they do business with you." A real estate agent told me, "You can't sell your house by yourself. Serious buyers won't come." I did, in seventeen days. Authorities may try ridicule: "You don't know what you're talking about." My favorite is the line, "I probably know more about this than you do." When someone says that, they probably don't. When all else fails, authorities intimidate. They yell. They interrupt. They cut you off. In my experience, that's a sign you're dealing with someone who's clueless. Unfortunately, if you feel vulnerable and you really seek help, authorities can block your intuition the way a wall blocks a breeze. You hear a little voice saying, "That's not the way it works," and you squash it with, "Look, he's an expert. And I feel lost in the jungle without a guide." We are most vulnerable to the influence of authority during a life transition because we are dealing with new situations and problems. We are often very conscious of lacking expertise. You investigate a new career and you're told, "You must get a degree" or, "All the good jobs are in London." You sigh and think, "I'll just forget the whole thing," and later realize you blew off the opportunity of a lifetime. Or you're advised, "This career is the wave of the future," only to be jobless and frustrated six months later. If you've just moved cross-country to take
a job, you may not know whom to trust.
When you're undergoing a life transition, make your own Question Authority sign. When you feel most confused and desperate, look carefully at the sign before you seek help. Consider making another sign: "Maybe they're wrong." Every expert, every consultant, every coach can be wrong sometimes. Even me. Related Article: Turn wet blankets into comfort quilts. When you feel overwhelmed by experts, consider
hiring a coach who can help you stay
tuned to your own inner compass. Please visit my new career/business website. |