It’s no secret that change, especially a career change, can be a scary (and for some people downright terrifying) idea. We tend to get into a routine and hold to it with a death grip.
Change can bring a certain level of instability in life. Change means learning new things and breaking old habits. It can mean being the one who doesn’t quite know what’s going on or trying to find a comfortable place once again. Because of this discomfort, many people choose not to make a career change, even when it is clearly overdue.
If you are considering a new career, but you are too terrified to try or feel inadequate, you can take comfort in the fact that hundreds of people, or more like thousands, make a career change every single day.
Some do this because they are moving to a new city, others because they feel they are worth more than they are currently doing or getting paid in their dead-end position. Still others just want a bit more of a challenge.
Whatever the reasoning, the reality is that people who make a change usually do just fine. They often find more success and fulfillment than they could have ever thought possible. But as you have probably heard, most things in life that are rewarding require hard work and a willingness to take a risk.
Are you willing? Here are just a few ways to push yourself to make that change you’ve been dreaming of for much too long.
Be Confident
Ever heard the phrase “Fake it ‘til you make it?” You may have just smiled at it before, but it’s time to seriously consider the truth behind it. Learning to have confidence in yourself and your abilities is the first step to attaining your dream job.
If you feel that you don’t have much to offer, most likely others will feel the same way. Why sell yourself short? It might be time to really consider your passions and talents. Once you’ve found these, you can look for positions that relate to your strengths. This is an easy way to boost your confidence level.
Go after these jobs fearlessly. Why shouldn’t you? You know you’d be good at the job, and you can easily project that confidence in an interview. Have confidence in yourself and know that you can do great things, and you will.
Weigh the Positives Against the Negatives
You might be wondering if you should really take that career change “leap” or not. If you are considering it then there’s a good chance it’s time, but if you aren’t sure, you might want to make a list of the pros and cons of such a move.
Weighing the positives against the negatives will help you see that there are probably more reasons to make the change than there are to stay in the unfulfilling, although somewhat stable position you are currently in.
See It As An Adventure Rather Than As a Traumatic Experience
Remember reading about all those adventurous heroes in novels as a child? Sure, they could have hidden underneath their beds and refused to ever come out, but what kind of a story would that have been? Take that same sense of adventure to heart when it come to your career.
Choose to see a career change as an adventure rather than a necessary, traumatic experience. Doing this will definitely make it more enjoyable (and hey, maybe even fun!) and will lead to more success than if you are timid. Believe in yourself and enjoy the journey.
Rid Yourself of “What If’s”
Finally, take charge of the little “what if’s” floating around inside your head. Yes, there is a chance that things could go wrong. In life, there is always a chance. But hey, there’s a chance that a number of things could happen to you, but you don’t worry about every little thing, do you? Hopefully not. Doing so would seriously dampen your spirits each and every day.
Focusing on the great things that can happen with a career change, rather than what might go wrong, will help you cultivate the confidence you need to move in the direction of your dreams.
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