Beliefs That Hold You Back
Have you noticed…people who believe that they can do something tend to succeed, and those who believe they can’t, tend to fail?
Throughout history, wise people the world over have recognized that our beliefs are so powerful they create our reality. The Upanishads…Shakespeare… Ralph Waldo Emerson…Henry Ford…Napolean Hill…are just a few of the well-known proponents of “what you think is what you get”. When you are trying to buck the tide and change your career, this is critically important stuff.
Whether you realize it consciously or not, you hold many beliefs about your working life. Some of them have served you well – they’ve allowed you to learn new skills, assume greater responsibility or take on new career challenges; other beliefs have held you back.
To illustrate this, meet two former clients, Doreen and Jack (not their real names). Doreen, a senior level HR director, told me she had no doubt she would eventually be successful changing careers. “It might take a little while, but I’ll do it,” she said. When I asked how she knew that, she responded “because I’m a change agent in my bones. I make things happen.” This belief gave Doreen a sense of certainty that she would succeed – and within 14 months, she did just that.
Jack, on the other hand, had struggled for almost two years with re-inventing his career. He had a strong sense of community, had terrific relationship skills and solid business know-how. His dream of owning a small café seemed quite doable, but it wasn’t happening. One day, Jack joked “I’m one of the unlucky ones – just meant for hard work”.
A joke? Hardly. It revealed that, for Jack, work was supposed to be hard, almost punitive – not something that was fun, or which fulfilled one’s dreams. Once this belief was out in the open, Jack was able to re-frame it and realize that “hard work” and “fulfilling work” were not mutually exclusive realities. This understanding freed him from the nasty bit of self-sabotage, and thereafter, he was able to make quick progress toward his goal.
The Top 10 Limiting Beliefs -- Career Change
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I am not skilled enough.
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Hard work is noble.
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Fulfilling work is for others, not me.
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Fulfillment comes from my personal life, not my work life.
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I’m too old to make a major life change.
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My family and friends will think I’m crazy.
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I’m a fraud – my success is a result of the corporate structure, or my tenure.
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The unknown isn’t safe.
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I’m not sure that I can trust my decisions or choices.
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I’m afraid of failing in a new role.
Your Beliefs Can Be Changed
While a belief
feels very real and right to the believer, beliefs are not
absolute – they are a learned frame of reference. When you have
a genuine willingness to replace a belief with something new and
empowering, it is entirely possible to do so. ###
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© Copyright 2001-2008 PurposefulWork.com. Reprinted by permission of Patricia Soldati, an IAC certified coach, career counselor and certified professional resume writer who helps corporate professionals advance their careers. For information about her services, visit http://www.purposefulwork.com.
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