What’s holding you back from transforming your career? I’m sure you can think of a number of reasons right now, like “I can’t afford it,” “I’m too old,” “I won’t make a success of it,” or “I’m not ready.” To be fair, most of us are pretty good at throwing caution to the wind and holding onto everything that’s safe and familiar, even if it’s not bringing us happiness or fulfillment.

At some time in our careers, many of us will find ourselves desiring to go on to something new but holding ourselves back. But why is it so difficult for us? Reimagining our careers ought to be something we celebrate and take pleasure in.

Break free from the rut

Making a change in one’s routine can seem daunting and challenging. It’s safer to adhere to our routine and the same old self-stories that we have always told.

Therefore, rather than focusing only on the practical details of how we’re going to get there, if we’re serious about altering our careers, we need to look at what’s happening in our minds.

By this, I’m saying that no matter how much education, training, or reading we accomplish, if we don’t alter our perspective, it probably won’t matter.

One action at a time

That being said, it takes time to transform our thought patterns. Our “old” selves, which are firmly anchored in our experiences, routines, pursuits, interpersonal connections, and the beliefs we have about who we are, can be difficult to let go of.

Instead of taking one massive step toward our goal, it becomes a gradual process made up of many small steps, some of which may take us in unexpected ways.

But where do we even start on this adventure? What steps should we take to rewrite our story?
The following are some of my dos and don’ts to assist you adopt the proper mindset for a successful career change:

1. Do you see yourself in the future?

I brought up the notion of letting go of our “old” selves. We can achieve this by visualizing the versions of ourselves that we would have when we have achieved our professional goals.
Visualization is an effective instrument. It helps us stay goal-focused and puts us in the correct mindset to succeed—one in which we are self-assured and genuinely believe we can succeed.

It might be challenging to push back against negative beliefs that keep us from moving forward when we try to visualize our future selves. Here’s something you can do that might help: simply add the word “yet” each time you catch yourself saying “I can’t” or “I don’t.” “I don’t have the skills… yet,” or “I can’t do it… yet.” This one word alone has the ability to neutralize negative thinking and create a world of opportunities.

2. Keep an open mind to new things.

Our potential may be limited because we frequently create stories about who we are. Remarking, “I’m not good at X,” can impede professional advancement. However, we can reinvent who we are when we take chances and interact with new individuals.

3. Avoid taking on more than you can handle.

You would undoubtedly remark “that’s impossible” if I told you to climb a mountain in a single day. You wouldn’t even attempt it. However, that seems much more manageable right away if I advised you to take as long as you wanted and to feel free to stop as often as you wished along the way.

Sometimes the very thought of changing can seem like such a daunting task that we give up before we’ve even begun. Rather, break it down into smaller, more achievable goals and relish the sense of accomplishment you get at each one as you get closer to your future self.

4. Don’t be afraid to fail

The secret to successfully shifting occupations may lie in how we handle failure.

While pursuing our objectives, we’re likely to encounter numerous setbacks; this is okay since we learn from our mistakes. However, if it causes us to give up, that can be a problem. Failure should be viewed as a hiccup in the journey rather than the end of it.

Thus, once you make a mistake, take a moment to step back and consider what went wrong. After that, consider the lessons you’ve learned and the ways you could approach the situation differently going forward.

5. Take regular breaks where necessary

We must provide ourselves the mental space necessary to generate original thoughts and new understandings. Thus, take regular breaks from the modifications you’re attempting. Depending on how long you believe you need, this might be hours, days, or even months.

We are more likely to have our finest ideas and make our best decisions during these intervals, so take advantage of them to do the things that make you happy or calm you down.

6. Be patient

Everything in the modern world seems to be designed for instant satisfaction. Therefore, after deciding to transform your careers, you might discover that you want things to happen right away. If they don’t, you might become upset and think about abandoning up.

However, we must allow ourselves enough time to reflect, consider our options, and decide on our next course of action. We also need to remind ourselves that we are improving little by little and that every action, no matter how tiny, matters.

7. Take calculated risks.

We can find new chances and develop our confidence when we take calculated risks in a secure environment. It also makes it easier for us to embrace failure as a necessary component of the changing process.

Volunteering and work shadowing are two excellent ways to explore potential career paths and acquire new abilities.

8. Talk to someone.

It’s a good idea to discuss your ideas with someone while you consider the adjustments you wish to make to your profession.

This can be a well-known and trustworthy acquaintance or relative of yours. Another option is to find a mentor—someone who can offer you advice and support without telling you what to do or how to feel.

Conclusion

Changing your mindsets doesn’t happen by accident. It happens by choice, and these eight steps should help get you on the right track.

Remember to have self-compassion as you take steps to transform your career because set back will occur and you need all the self love and comfort you can get. Your willpower will be stronger because of it. The first step towards new mindset, reading this article and feeling empowered to begin your new journey, has already been taken. See you at the top