What I Learned Leading a Workshop on Career Clarity & Confidence
I recently co-led a workshop for individuals looking to level-up their life and career, gain clarity on their goals, and learn how to overcome fears and obstacles that stand in their way.
After some reflection afterwards, I had five big take aways that I wanted to share with you.
Food from Aloha Poke in Chicago, IL
My biggest take aways were:
Having a space for people to open up, be vulnerable, and share their stories, is extremely healing and necessary to level-up. We don’t spend enough time opening up and sharing who we are, what makes us human, and where we feel stuck. It turns out that most people are experiencing the same things, even if it’s at different times in their lives. I would love if more people felt comfortable sharing their stories, rather than hiding the truth and adding to the facade of perfection [thanks, Instagram]. I felt like everyone in the room left with a tad more compassion towards themselves and towards each other.
Most people don’t feel comfortable talking about themselves (well, most). It’s interesting how awkward people are when you ask them, “What are you most proud of?” We are taught to stay quiet, obey, follow the rules, and listen to authority. We have also been taught that talking about yourself is “bragging” or being “vain.” Well yes, sometimes people take a less than humble approach, but it's important to realize the difference between bragging and sharing who you are. I want to change this. We all have important stories tied to who we are but we tend to bottle them up like they don’t matter. Usually our purpose in life is tied to our life stories.
Many people don’t believe they are unique. This one is so important! I used to think that everything I was passionate about was just regular or just plain weird, but not necessarily unique to me. I felt that I wasn't special in the sense that other people probably knew just as much about those topics as I did. But over time I realized that these passions and strengths were unique to me. This is what made me special and these were my gifts to share with the world. I notice how many people don’t even know what their gifts are or if they realize that what they do naturally also makes them unique. Since our society encourages people to choose careers between ages 18-22, before having done personal development work or even working in the real world, many people enter careers without knowing who they are and what they really want. It's not a surprise that so many people wake up one day and realize that their career isn't working for them. Your unique passions and strengths are both crucial in discovering your life purpose and getting clarity on what you want.
We have stories about ourselves in our minds that keep us stuck. I used to think for so long that I was never good enough and that nobody liked me. Yep. It sounds crazy even writing this. These stories are created from memories during our childhood and teenage years and unfortunately imprinted over time into adulthood. It's our job to realize what stories were created so you can rewire your thought patterns and eventually manage them better. We all have negative stories and thought patterns. But sadly these stories can hurt your ability to maximize your potential and live a life that you absolutely love. Even though they aren't true, your thoughts are creating behaviors and/or inaction.
Most people have a vision for a life that makes them feel EXCITED and HAPPY. But then life and stress and overwhelm gets in the way. Life stressors are real. But so is your vision. It was amazing to witness everyone in the room craft their vision after five minutes of meditation. If you believe in yourself and realize that you have something unique to share with the world, you CAN move closer to your vision. Most people don't want to settle for mediocrity. Many people have an idea or a desire for something more. It's crazy what happens when you believe in yourself and commit to being more courageous in your life.
To sum it all up: I was positively overwhelmed with the connections happening in the room. When you create a safe space for people to be real and vulnerable, magic happens. But I also experienced that some individuals were unable to easily see and believe how unique and important they are. It's essential if you're looking to change careers or if you're in burnout mode to first focus on what your strengths are and what makes you unique. This will facilitate the direction you eventually should take.
This is why I have set out to do this work. My role is to help you discover what lights you up and encourage you to choose a life that fulfills you. I feel a strong conviction towards empowering people to connect to their purpose and find the courage and confidence to live life on their own terms.
See you soon!
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Setting the mood!
My co-creator Liz Traines
Cupcakes from Molly's Cupcakes in Chicago, IL