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Are you feeling stuck and blocked in your career? Do you wake up every day hating the idea of going to work, feeling unhappy and unfulfilled?
Why does this happen, and how can you break free to find your dream career?
Reason #1: You Don’t Make Time for Yourself
One of the biggest reasons you feel stuck in your career is that you don’t make time for yourself. Everything else seems more important – your job, your family, your responsibilities. While these are indeed important, neglecting yourself can have serious consequences. When you don’t prioritize yourself, you don’t take the necessary time to reflect on your career and life goals.
Start by carving out dedicated time for self-reflection. Sit down and write out what it would cost you to stay in a job and career that doesn’t fulfill you. Think about how it impacts your mental health, your relationships, and your overall well-being. Realizing the true cost of staying in an unfulfilling job can be a powerful motivator to make a change.
Reason #2: You Are in a State of Stress and Anxiety
Another major block to career clarity is being in a constant state of stress and anxiety. When you’re in a fight, flight, or freeze mode, it’s nearly impossible to make clear and rational decisions. Stress clouds your judgment and makes it difficult to see the possibilities for a fulfilling career.
Before you can think about what career would fulfill you, you need to get out of that state of fear and anxiety. One effective tool to help with this is EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) tapping.
What is EFT Tapping?
EFT tapping involves using your fingertips to tap on specific meridian points on your body while focusing on negative emotions or physical sensations. This technique helps to release emotional blockages and reduce stress.
How to Use EFT Tapping:
- Identify the issue: Focus on what is causing you stress or anxiety.
- Rate the intensity: On a scale from 0 to 10, rate the intensity of your stress.
- Create a setup statement: For example, “Even though I feel anxious about my career, I deeply and completely accept myself.”
- Tap on the meridian points: Use your fingertips to tap on the following points while repeating your setup statement and focusing on the issue:
- Side of the hand (Karate Chop point)
- Eyebrow (where the eyebrow begins, near the bridge of the nose)
- Side of the eye (on the bone bordering the outside corner of the eye)
- Under the eye (on the bone under the eye, about an inch below your pupil)
- Under the nose (between the bottom of your nose and the top of your upper lip)
- Chin (midway between the point of your chin and the bottom of your lower lip)
- Collarbone (just below the hard ridge of your collarbone)
- Under the arm (about four inches below the armpit)
- Top of the head (directly on the top of your skull)
- Use Positive Affirmations to Use While Tapping:
- “I am open to discovering a career that fulfills me.”
- “I trust in my ability to make the right career choices.”
- “I release the fear and anxiety about my career.”
Repeat this process until the intensity of your stress decreases.
Reason #3: You Fear the Unknown
A common block to finding your dream career is the fear of the unknown. Stepping out of your comfort zone and into a new career can be daunting. This fear can keep you stuck in a job that you know is not right for you simply because it feels safer than venturing into the unknown.
Research published in the Journal of Behavior Research and Therapy shows that people who try to suppress their unwanted thoughts often end up more distressed by them. Similarly, telling someone to just calm down can worsen their anxiety because it’s like fighting against it.
To overcome this block, start by acknowledging your fear. Understand that it’s a natural response to change and try to use it to your advantage. Instead of labeling it as anxiety, reframe it as excitement. Physiologically, anxiety and excitement are the same; the difference lies in how we interpret these feelings.
