Is Fear Holding You Back in Your Career? 3 Steps to Work Through It
Making a career change is never easy. Even if you feel stuck in your current position, it's far too easy to let fear of change and fear of failure stop you from making a change. But everyone deserves to feel inspired and fulfilled at work, and if you don't, it's time to let go of that fear and start taking steps towards a satisfying career. Here's how:
1. Acknowledge your fears.
The first step may sound obvious, but it's very common to deny to yourself that fear is the reason you're holding yourself back. Do any of these excuses sound familiar?
It's not the right time to make a change.
Maybe there's more I can learn from my current position.
I don't want to burn any bridges.
These are all just veiled ways of expressing a fear of change. If you know in your heart that you aren't happy where you are, you'll need to acknowledge your hesitations before you can overcome them.
2. Trace the source of your fears.
Some of the things that scare you about a career change may be rooted in past experiences. For instance, maybe you had a particularly bad interview once that shook your confidence. Identifying the source of your fear can help you challenge that negativity. For instance, say to yourself, "My last interview didn't go well, but I have learned from it and grown since then."
Also, notice when you're magnifying negative events in your head and give yourself permission to see them in a more accurate light. Did the interview really go that poorly, or are you being hard on yourself? Overblowing consequences in your mind is a common method of self-sabotage.
Another important note is that you often won't be able to find a specific event that sparked your anxiety. In this case, you should take comfort in the fact that your worries are probably unfounded.
3. Reframe your fears to embrace change.
Once you've identified and explored your fears, the final step is to reframe them into something that will motivate you to take action. Try one of the following affirmations when you find yourself dwelling on anxious thoughts:
Change is scary, but it means something exciting is about to happen.
All of my past failures have taught me something. If I fail at this, it will only help me grow.
Taking a chance right now will help me find happiness.
Once you're ready to make a change, get in touch with HireVibe to find out how we can connect you to opportunities that will help you feel fulfilled every day you go to work.
