I have to admit, I’ve been guilty of buying into these myths even though I knew they were holding me back. For years, I justified them by telling myself that they were keeping me safe and protected from failure or disappointment.
They (falsely) helped me feel like I was making the right decision by staying in a career that deep down, I knew was totally wrong for me. I bought into these myths for years so I wouldn’t have to change - even though my heart knew I needed to.
Are These Career Change Myths Holding You Back?
1. I’ll never be this successful doing something else.
When you’ve worked hard to get to where you are, it’s easy to think you’ll never achieve the same amount of success doing something else. The truth is, you’ve done it once - you can do it again. And if you’ve achieved success doing something you aren’t in love with, just imagine how successful you’ll be at doing something you actually love!
2. I’ll never earn as much money doing something I love.
This was a biggie for me because I had created a lifestyle with the financial security of my corporate job. I’m not all about quitting your job on a whim and putting yourself or your family in financial turmoil. There is a period of transition and most people remain in their current job while they get their next career up and running. People do it every day – it’s more than possible to earn what you’re making now – in fact, it’s more than possible to earn even more.
3. I don’t know what I really want to do, so I’ll just keep waiting until I “figure it out”.
What is it going to take for you to “figure it out”? A health scare? A financial crisis? A relationship breakdown? Sure, when we go through challenging times in our life we tend to “figure things out” because we hit rock bottom and re-evaluate everything. But you don’t have to wait for something major to happen. And you certainly don’t have to waste your life away waiting for your purpose or dream career to magically appear. Let me tell you from experience – it doesn’t work that way. You have to take action. Even just baby steps to start – find a hobby, enroll in a course, work with a coach. This is your life. Don’t let this precious journey pass you by – wake up and create the life you want.
4. Without my job, I won’t know who I am.
People say this to me all the time. In our society, our identities are often tied so tightly into what we do for a living. Isn’t this even more of a reason to love what you do? Do you really want your identity to be tied to something that doesn’t feel like a full expression of who you truly are? Your true soul, your authentic self, is so much more than a career. But if we do find that sense of identity through our careers, it makes so much more sense to have our careers be a direct reflection of who we are, what we love, our purpose here on earth, and what we are here to do.
5. I will be happy with my life if I keep working in this career for the money, and have my passions on the side as a hobby.
This works for a while. But once you start to awaken to finding your purpose, to finding true meaning in your life, you realize you don’t want to waste the 2/3 of your life that is spent working in a career you aren’t absolutely in love with.
“The most pernicious aspect of procrastination is that it can become a habit. We don’t just put off our lives today; we put them off till our deathbed. Never forget: This very moment, we can change our lives. There never was a moment, and never will be, when we are without the power to alter our destiny.”
So what am I supposed to do?
Stop buying into these career change myths. People find and transition into their dream careers, and earn money for living their purpose every day. But I get it - it’s hard to do anything when you don’t know how or where to start. With the right tools and a little bit of guidance, you can move into your dream career.
No matter how crazy, big, or scary it seems – you can do this in a way that you feel safe, supported, and in control. It is such a beautiful journey to take, and one of the most exciting phases in life. Take it from me - once you’re on the other side and living your dream, living your purpose, there is no better feeling on earth.
So stop waiting. Stop making excuses. Stop buying into these career change myths. It’s time to redirect your life and get you on your path. Your true path.
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ABOUT ERICA
Erica Carrico is an International Life Purpose Coach, world traveler, adventure seeker, free spirit, and mommy of 2.
Through coaching services, speaking, and writing, Erica helps holistic & spiritual professionals who are frustrated and stuck in the wrong career, discover their life purpose and start a soul-aligned business so they can finally earn a living doing what they absolutely love. What they were put on earth to do.
Erica has a BS in Psychology, an MS in Nonprofit Management, life and career coaching certifications, 12+ years experience in business leadership and international recruitment, built a fully-booked soul-aligned business within a year, has traveled through over 50 different countries, and is obsessed with helping thousands of people all around the world live lives full of passion, purpose, freedom, and adventure.
To follow more of Erica’s work, you can find her hanging out on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and LINKED IN.
