Career Building Tips

When I was in the fifth grade, I knew a girl named Christine who wanted to be a doctor. And I discovered, just the other day, that Christine had become a doctor – a very good and respected one. But what about the rest of us? Have we grown up to achieve the career that we dreamed of when we were young (like being an astronaut, doctor or firefighter)? Or have we settled for the career we thought we should want? Equally depressing, have we taken what we believed was the only thing we could get, handicapped by the negative expectations of not only others, but ourselves? I believe that poor career karma (cause and effect) can be changed into something very rewarding for ourselves, by basic recognition of this state and the intention to change it into something more fulfilling.

Learning to disregard what others tell us is vital. Others’ expectations can be good things when they concern truthfulness, a good work ethic, or reliability, for example. But I have done many readings for people who are very unhappy because of what their families (in particular) expected of them. Whether it was just comments like “You should be a teacher, teachers will always be needed” or “You’ll be a doctor, just like your father and grandfather,” many people fall for the predictions of their future made by the people they think know them best. They disregard the opinion of the one person who matters above all – themselves – and let others dictate their path.

There are also many people in the world doing what they feel is the best they can hope for. They are capable of much more than their current employment, but feel that they don’t deserve better. This could be as a result of expectations from others, as well. (“You’ll never amount to anything, you’re dumb, just like your brother.”) Unhappily, they settle for second-best, as that is what they have been conditioned to expect. They deserve more than they are getting.

How do we change our career karma? By realizing that we merit the best career that will utilize our potential. By realizing that we are not bound by the expectations of others, only our own. Whether it’s through counseling or self-examination, we can change our jobs into fulfilling careers – into something we enjoy doing every day, work that we feel contributes to not only our own lives, but the lives of others. Beginning with the recognition that we have poor career karma, we can, with intention, turn this around.

Where have you set your sights – and where can you set them next?