Ten Tips for a Productive Professional Crisis
The midlife crisis with it's stereotypical embarrassing sports cars and much-younger women is a well-documented phenomenon. The quarter-life crisis may not be as well known or as severe, but it afflicts plenty of young people just the same. You've finished college, gotten a job and generally seem to be on the trajectory you thought you wanted to be on, and then it hits you: is this it? Is this really want I want to be doing? If this sounds familiar, new-agey wellness site intent.com has some surprisingly sensible tips from Kathy Caprino, author of Breakdown, Breakthrough, that may help. Directed at women, the advice on making the most of a professional crisis nonetheless seems suitable for all:
- Listen to your body - From minor aches and pains to major forms of disease or malaise, pay attention to what an ailment may be saying to you--not just about your body, but your mind and spirit, too.
- Heed your hunches - Your intuition, or inner voice, is an invaluable source of information. Start developing a keen awareness of the "dialogue" within you--even asking questions and waiting for the answers.
- Say "no" to an either-or life - Are you focusing on just one aspect of yourself? Don't do it. Reconnect with a talent or dimension of yourself that you love, but has gone by the wayside.
- Speak up - Speaking the truth sounds simple, but it's not. Throughout the day, at home or work, ask yourself, "What do I want to say here?" Then take a risk and put it out there.
- Embrace "good enough" - Many women strive, even slave, to be the best--driving themselves crazy in the process. If you're one of them, practice accepting good enough.
- Figure out what you're most afraid of - Get in the cage with your fears. One by one, take them on and face what you're most afraid of. How is it driving you, limiting you, and wearing you out?
- Get real about money - Money can be the means to either limiting or expanding yourself. Take time to understand your own beliefs and history around money. (Are they healthy?)
- Stop making excuses - We're all good at making excuses for not acting. Take a long, hard look at your own excuses.
- Be open to angels [not the celestial kind] - Odds are, there are a number of "angels" in your life--people who love and support you, believe in you, and will give you the gentle push you need to venture into the unknown. Be open to their help.
- Find a role model - You might already have a role model... If not, get serious about finding one. Look for someone who brings to light the qualities and successes you admire and aspire to.
(Image of guy in the midst of a midlife crisis by Ubi Desperare Nescio, CC 2.0)