3 Steps to Regain Confidence and Hope That It’s Possible to Love the Work You Do
Working in a job that doesn’t suit you for whatever reason, can gradually erode confidence and instill the fear that finding enjoyable work is virtually impossible.
It can be like walking up an escalator that’s going down. You want to move in one direction, but your confidence and hope levels are dragging you back in the other.
And without hope, it can begin to feel like things will never change.
But it is possible to regain that confidence and to restore hope by taking some simple steps.
STEP 1. Check for Self-Defeating Assumptions
Sometimes our work culture tells us one thing, but the truth is something else, often the opposite.
Take my client Jen …
Up until recently, Jen was in the government sector and a year ago moved to a private sector investment company.
She often feels sidelined because she doesn’t have a private sector background. Jen has assumed that because she is being sidelined, it means she is ‘not good enough.’
But by stepping back and checking this assumption, Jen has been able to see that just because others don’t recognise it doesn’t mean she doesn’t have extremely valuable experience.
She is now embracing the truth that she is highly competent in her unique field of expertise.
This truer belief comes out in her soul, her self-worth, and her smile — all vital for progressing.
When you take time to check for self-defeating assumptions, you can get to the truth and begin to embrace a mindset that will enable you to reconnect with the you that is unique, brilliant at what you do, and whom the world needs!
It’s like the ‘frog in a pot’ analogy — where a frog immersed in gradually heating water fails to notice the creeping change in its surroundings and ends up being boiled alive.
STEP 2. Make Space to Gain a Fresh Perspective
One of the biggest enemies to confidence and hope is losing sight of the bigger picture.
The quick hits that we get from ticking things off our daily ‘to do’ list get addictive. Before long, we find ourselves in a hamster wheel of busyness, and we forget where we are going.
But there is a world and a life beyond this job you are in now. There is a reason for you being in this world.
Stepping back to see where you are in your life and seeing things from a fresh perspective will help you to become more aware of that purpose.
Even taking 10 minutes at lunchtime to get outdoors, go for a walk, and to feel the sun on your face (or the rain on your skin if you are in the UK!) can give you perspective.
Early on in my career, every day for 10 minutes at lunchtime, I would sit in a church. It was the only quiet place I could find. It gave me respite from the crazy, high-pressure culture I was working in.
Not only did 10 minutes make me a more reasonable employee for the remainder of the day, but over time it enabled me to connect with a picture of the life I really wanted.
It was this picture that became the motivation to take the leap of faith into the future that now brings me so much joy.
Similarly, taking time away from work (including your home office), and doing something completely different, like cycling, hiking, baking or painting, can breathe fresh hope into you.
And if you are really at the end of your rope, a sabbatical of a few months is a low-risk way of taking stock without having to leave your job.
However small, just do something regularly to create space and gain that perspective you need.
STEP 3. Start turning your attention to things you truly, deeply, passionately love
Have you noticed that when you start thinking about buying a certain car, suddenly you see them everywhere?
That is because what you focus on grows.
And so, if you want to find work that you love, start noticing what lights you up. As you do, you’ll start seeing possibilities all around you, and your confidence will grow.
One way to start is to write a list of 100 things you love.
When you do the things you love, you won’t even feel like you are working. And there is a high likelihood that your passion will bring you success.
Don’t worry about whether you can see how they would fit into a job. The key here is reconnecting with the things that bring you life and hope.
The Journey of a Thousand Miles Starts with a Few Steps
It is possible to regain that confidence and restore hope that you can do the work you love.
The seemingly difficult trek to a new career or better job starts with a few steps.
So, get going with these first steps today and don’t give up. It’s so worth it!
I’d Love to Hear From You…
What are some of the self-defeating assumptions you might be making in your work? What is actually true? What helps you to gain perspective?
Write your list of 100 things you love. What do you notice? Share in the comments section or drop me a line: email hidden; JavaScript is required