Resistance is doing its job – are you?
There’s a quiet battle most of us fight every day, often without realising it.
It’s the tug-of-war between what you really want, and what’s standing in the way: fear, discomfort, resistance.
Sound familiar?
Changing careers is terrifying. Leaving behind who you’ve been, stepping into the unknown, with no guarantee of how it will turn out.
Putting yourself out there is just as scary – your first job application, that networking event or a conversation with someone you hope could be your future boss.
(True story: At my very first networking event during university, I got so uncomfortable that I left the building… and never went back!)
My first networking event – a career fair during my Bachelor’s in Earth Science – looked something like this. I became so terrified that potential employers might discover that I wasn’t as smart or qualified enough that I shut down completely – and could barely speak!
But resistance isn’t always dramatic. Sometimes its very reasonable.
“I’ll aim for a job I think I can get, not the one I really want.”
“I’ll wait until I’ve got a few more things lined up.”
“I won’t reach out to potential employers until I have enough skills / clarity / confidence / the perfect strategy.”
(And I’m not exempt either: I’ve used money, time, other people’s expectations – even very busy to-do lists – as excuses more times than I can count.)
But here’s the kicker: resistance usually shows up exactly where something meaningful is trying to happen.
Check out the diagram below – especially the fear zone, and what’s waiting beyond it.
So here’s my challenge for you:
- Which zone are you in right now?
- What does it feel like to be here?
- What are you guaranteeing you’ll miss if you stay put?
- What could be possible if you dared to step forward?
If you’re circling these questions alone, or stuck at the edge of the fear zone, this is exactly the work we do in partnership in career coaching.
Explore our 1-on-1 Career Coaching Programmes anytime.
PS: I’ll leave you with this: if something feels uncomfortable, it might mean you’re standing at the edge of something huge… and worth it.
Author Profile | Kristi Foster
Kristi Foster is the Head of Coaching at Conservation Careers and has a Master’s in Conservation Biology. Her own conservation career journey has led her across the globe from East Africa to the Amazon, working with organisations such as Fauna & Flora, the World Agroforestry Centre and Ecotourism Australia. Since joining Conservation Careers in 2019, she has coached over 100 conservationists in career direction and fulfilment, and consulted in job applications, interviews and more. Today a key part of her mission is supporting conservationists to transform who they are and want they do in the world. Learn more.