Do you feel alone sometimes on your quest for career clarity and fulfillment? A lot of people do. The feeling of isolation and the fear to ask for help keep people stuck in a job that doesn’t fit. We live in a culture that idealizes independence. This creates a major barrier to reach out and ask for help with your career transition.
When people inquire about my career coaching services, they often say: “I should be able to figure this out on my own.” This limiting belief is far from the truth. Most of us need help and guidance on the courageous journey to find a career that is fully aligned with who we are. I deeply believe that it is a strength to ask for help on your career quest. That’s why I congratulate everyone who seeks my support on their journey. Each time we reach out and ask for help we create a more connected, supportive culture.
Let Go of Limiting Beliefs that Keep You Isolated
I’ve been through the career clarity journey you are on. For several years I worked in a field that wasn’t right for me, in a job that was incredibly stressful. I was stuck, but didn’t know what would be right for me. At the time I believed that “I should be able to figure this out on my own.”
I am so grateful that a friend recommended I seek support from a career coach, based on her own positive experience with coaching. My courage to reach out and ask for help at that challenging time in my career was such a blessing. My coach encouraged, challenged and championed me every step of the way. I wouldn’t have found my way on my own and am forever grateful for her support.
Embrace Your Humanity – We Need Each Other’s Help
A recent experience in the mountains, reminded me that we need to ask for help and offer support to one another as human beings on an even more basic level. May this story inspire you to open yourself to ask for help and receive support on your journey to career clarity and fulfillment.
Last summer, my husband and I went backpacking up the beautiful Elk River in Strathcona Park on Vancouver Island. We were so happy to be completely immersed in nature. What a joy to be surrounded only by the sounds of the rushing water, the calls of the ravens and the chirps of chipmunks. We enjoy sinking into the natural rhythm of rising with the sun and crawling into our tent just after sunset. Backpacking is such a wonderful way to reconnect with life’s simple bare necessities.
On our way up the Elk River, we crossed paths several times with another couple who were taking their five month old chocolate lab puppy, Buddha, on his first backcountry hike. Buddha was very excited, bouncing back and forth on the trail, sniffing and exploring everything.
After a long day of hiking with our heavy packs we arrived at the campsite up in the subalpine. The sun had already gone behind the mountains and the clouds were turning pink. Most campsites were already taken. Fortunately we found a beautiful nook, nestled in the trees, and set up our tent for the night. Buddha came bouncing by one more time to investigate our site.
When we got up in the morning, all the other campers had either already left, or were preparing to leave. It was Labour Day and we were looking forward to the peace and quiet of having this piece of paradise all to ourselves for the next two nights.
Ask for Help – It’s Essential!
As we were cooking our breakfast, our first gas container ran out. We had brought two almost full gas containers with us thinking that this would be plenty for our three nights in the backcountry. However, now that we were already down to one gas container, having barely prepared two meals, we were not so sure that we really had brought enough gas.
By now the only other people left in the campsite were the owners of Buddha, the cute puppy, and they were about to leave. I went over to their site, shared our precarious situation and asked if they had a gas container left. Luckily, they did and generously gave it to us. What a relief!
After a wonderful breakfast, we stored our food away in the cache and went up to a glacial lake for the day. It was a magnificent, hot, sunny day. We were looking forward to a refreshing dip in the alpine lake. When we arrived at the lake, we were about to take off our clothes and jump into the lake, seemingly out of nowhere, appeared another hiker. He was only carrying a very small pack and had hiked all the way up to the lake that morning. Now he was about to head back down.
Offer Help – A Touch of Grace
After we exchanged a few words, I got the feeling that he may be short on water. I asked him and he confessed that he didn’t bring enough and that he felt rather stupid. He had only a few sips left in his small water bottle. The thirsty hiker still had to make it all the way down into the valley, approximately 11km, that afternoon. He gratefully accepted our offer to filter some lake water for him. After he had quenched his initial thirst, we refilled his bottle one more time. He carried on, relieved and replenished on his hike back down into the valley.
Receive & Give Help with Gratitude
These experiences in the wilderness reminded me, just how much we depend on each other. You just never know when you may need a helping hand. You never know when someone else may need your support. Within hours we had been both the grateful recipient and the gracious giver of help.
So, if you are not sure what you want to be “when you grow up” you are absolutely not alone! You don’t have to figure it out on your own either. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help.
Request your free career clarity consultation, today. I look forward to exploring how I may support you in finding a career path that’s right for you. Once you get CLEAR on the career that energizes and inspires you, you will naturally contribute with your greatest strengths.
As you contribute in meaningful ways you will help expand the circle of giving and receiving help, creating a more connected, supportive culture.
Leave A Comment