There’s just so much noise going on inside our own heads at the moment.
We are constantantly bombarded with difficult and challenging news 24/7 with regard to Covid-19, unemployment, job security, the Economy and so much more!
If you are trying to make choices about your career, the noise in your head is most likely getting in the way of clear thinking. If you’re wondering what’s driving and creating it; well it’s your old friend FEAR.
No matter where your life and/or career journey is taking you, Fear will always be hitching a ride and doing its’ best to sabotage your thinking. Fear’s voice is constant, its presence is compulsory and it’s there to keep you safe. So, the moment you feel under threat or you start to inch out of your comfort zone, exploring new opportunities, trying something new or taking risks, it gets agitated and louder!
Here are some of the great tips I recommend to my clients to help them quieten their noise:
Journaling – is a fantastic tool to help you clear your head and extract the noise on to paper. When things are noisy spend some time writing down how you’re feeling. Give Fear a place to exist outside of your head.
Free or Wild Writing – I use this tool with clients all the time with amazing results. Find a quiet spot with no distractions and have a notepad and pen. Set your timer for 5 minutes and just write whatever comes in to your head. Don’t allow the pen to leave the paper or stop writing – just keep writing even if you’re not sure what to write at first. Allow your subconscious mind to take over. Forget about making sense, punctuation, grammar or spelling just write continuously for 5 whole minutes and then observe what you’ve written.
Name your fears – write down all the things the noise is saying to you. Get them all out of your head, not matter how crazy or scary they may sound. When you have exhausted everything go through your list and question / challenge each one and name it. You can then ask each one is it really true, are there other options, is it realistic and so on?
Meditation – Dedicate some time each day to sit and just breathe. Just focusing on your breath is a fantastic way to calm the mind. If Meditation is new to you there are some fantastic Apps out there to support you such as Headspace or Insight Timer.
Get out in to nature – Taking a walk in nature and spending time noticing your environment is a great way to invigorate your senses and take your mind away from the noise in your head. Use all of your senses; what do you hear, what do you see, what do you smell, what do you feel? The more you become tuned in to your surroundings and senses the quieter your mind will become. When you return home you should have a renewed focus and intention.
If you’re trying to change careers or navigate your career journey try these tips when you start to feel stuck and the fear starts shouting too loud.
Why not contact me and arrange a free Careers Conversation to talk about how I can help you made the changes you want.
