By Victor Acquista, MD
Author Pathways to Health: An Integral Guidebook
Special to PRIME
In his groundbreaking 1970 book, “Future Shock,” Alvin Toffler predicted that adults of the future would have multiple careers. We are living that future now, and many adults will face career changes throughout their working lives. Having recently transitioned to my own third career (primary care physician, medical executive, author/speaker) I want to share what I feel are five crucial areas to pay close attention to during your transition.
After all the angst of planning a career change – weighing the pros and the cons, calculating the financial implications and retirement effects, the disruption in routines, and moves to a new work environment and possible living environment – you need to spend time getting some perspective. These are stressful changes. Here are ways to restore balance to your life:
Give yourself space
Sometimes a career change feels as though you have set yourself adrift at sea; you don’t really know where you are. It may feel as though you are in uncharted territory.
I have found it helpful to take time to get my bearings. If you have the luxury of some extra time, use it. You don’t have to have this new space in your life figured out on day one. Stop, look, and listen. What are some familiar aspects that you can use to begin to feel comfortable in this new environment? Much of what makes people similar means there will be similarities with and among all the people you deal with.
Draw from past experience, but also be open to new possibilities. Try to identify what is different about your current situation. Is it the energy, the excitement of starting something new? Give yourself the space to explore and learn. It probably will not take long to develop new comfort and familiarity. Give yourself the space to do so.
Engage your creativity
It is easy to develop strategies and techniques to handle the circumstances that occur at work and in your career. When those strategies work they tend to be your “go to” methods. When they don’t work, you learn to abandon them.
In some ways adopting what has worked and jettisoning what has not worked in particular times and circumstances of your past life boxes you in. This can really stymie creativity. Don’t be beholden to old thought and reaction patterns. In other words, be open to trying new things. Look for opportunities to engage your mind and the creative potential within you.
Don’t hold yourself back and understand you may fail. We learn much from both our successes and our failures. Make full use of these learning opportunities by thinking both inside and outside the proverbial box.
Invest in relationships
It’s hard to expand on this simple advice. Spend time with others, make new friends, ask questions, share who you are and what you are all about. We learn so much about ourselves in the context of our relationships with others. A career change presents the potential for new and very satisfying relationships. For my own recent career change, I also moved to a new city with wonderful opportunities to meet new people, explore new places, etc.
Sure it’s work to spend time and energy making these investments, but it is most likely the outcome of such efforts will be very fruitful.
Evaluate your priorities
With all the upheaval as you strive for balance during a career change, it’s important to also have stability zones. These are places that are familiar to you, where you have things figured out in ways that work for you. It can be a routine like going to the gym, a weekly “date night” with your significant other, a daily meditation practice, etc.
Stability zones anchor you as you examine your priorities. What’s important and (perhaps more importantly) what’s not important to you at this time in your life? We all have dreams, aspirations, and goals. It’s important to look at these in the context of your capacities and abilities. For example, at this time in my life, it’s unlikely I’ll be an NBA star, so I should cross this off my list.
Do an honest inventory of what matters to you. Honor what you feel in your heart.
Be true to yourself
It bears repeating to honor what you feel in your heart. As the saying goes, “Above all to thine own self be true.” A transition lets you press the reset button on things you compromised on previously. If you honestly identified your priorities about really important things, this is the chance to put words into action.
I have this bit of wisdom on my refrigerator – “The best things in life are not things.” I’ve taken this simple truth to heart in my own personal career change. For me, part of this truth involves being open to and willing to embrace possibility.
I encourage you to consider these bits of life wisdom and experience as you adjust to a career change and seek balance. It’s an exciting time of life. Enjoy the journey…
Victor Acquista MD is an international speaker, author, teacher. For information on his writings, presentations, and workshops: http://victoracquista.com/
