There is so much talk and information out there about positive psychology and so let’s think about how this can be applied to your career.

Positive psychology and thinking traps

You may already know about thinking traps and negative self-talk and how they impact on you so let’s have a look at these in connection to your career. A thinking trap is part of being human and we have all experienced them, especially during times of stress. They are about thinking in an irrational, negative way about our lives and what might happen in the future and this can hold us back from being confident and being able to live our life to the full. I’m going to name a few common ones below that relate to careers, and you may have experienced some of them. I have thought all of them at different times of my life, and continually challenge these thoughts as a way to deal with them. Are they realistic, or are they irrational?

·  I’m never going to get a job, I am…  too inexperienced… too young…  too old… too underqualified… etc

·  It’s impossible to find a job right now

·  I can’t apply for this job because if I get it they will find out I am not good enough

·  I have no idea what I want to do in my future so I am never going to be happy

·  I am on a work treadmill and I can’t get off

·  I don’t have any skills that are good enough to offer

·  There are many unemployed people, so I am never going to get a job

If you think you are stuck because of the way you are thinking about yourself and your career, then take a look at these thoughts and challenge them as a positive step to start moving forward. If you have ever heard of cognitive behavioural therapy, this can be applied to your thoughts about your career to overcome some of these really unhelpful thoughts or thinking traps. This therapy is based on the understanding that thinking negatively is a bad habit which can be broken and thinking positively can become a new habit.

Career myths

In addition to these thinking habits, we can also be influenced by unhelpful myths about careers, and here are a just a few:

·  There is only one right decision I can make about my career

·  I will only have one chance at a career in my life so I need to get this right

·  I will leave it up to a career expert to tell me what to do

·  There is only one career pathway that I am suited to and I am not sure what that is yet

So, none of these myths are true and can hold us back from taking positive action. And what is the solution? Having abundant thinking and a growth mindset is a great way to help you to future proof your career and enjoy the many twists and turns and opportunities that present to you over the years. Here is an example: I started working when I was 12 so I would say I have had around 30 different jobs in my lifetime and five different careers, and this has meant that I am never bored and learning something new all the time. I am always studying and experiencing something new and looking at life through multiple lens. This doesn’t mean that my life has been filled with rainbows and butterflies, and in fact my biggest growth times have been when distressing things have happened and during these times was forced to relook at myself and find my way out through getting the right support and becoming a better problem solver.

From the experts

I enjoy the late psychiatrist, Scott Peck’s writings in his 1978 book ‘The Road Less Travelled’. He begins the book with “Life is difficult but once we truly know that life is difficult  – once we truly understand and accept it – then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters. Accepting this fact is the first step towards personal growth and fulfillment.” So true.

If there is any way I can help you to reach your career potential and overcome some obstacles, then please get in touch and I’d love to help.