Be Ever Mindful of Your Professional Worth and the Value of Your Experiences

Rev. Dr. Kitty Boitnott, NBCT, RScP

Heart-Centered Career Transition & Job Search Coach | Life Strategies Coach 

It is a fact that as long as you are alive, you have an opportunity to learn something new. Indeed, those people who are most successful in life make it a point to learn something new every day. Abraham Lincoln once said, "I don't think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday."

Every day, throughout our entire lives, we have many different opportunities from which we can learn. Many of those experiences are mundane, "everyday" occurrences. Others may be more extraordinary.

On occasion, we may experience something that is entirely life-changing.

Whether an experience is routine or life-altering, it is always offering a "teachable moment." What we can hope for is that the experience will give us a fresh, new perspective.

As important as those out of the ordinary experiences are, we often fail to grasp the enlightenment that can be gained in the day-to-day activities that take up much of our time. Buddhists call this awareness of the learning potential in the commonplace "mindfulness."

The concept of mindfulness is growing in popularity as more and more people learn of its benefits. Being mindful can quite literally change how you approach your entire life. Instead of feeling that your life experience is chaotic and out of control, by employing moment-to-moment mindfulness, you can slow things down and feel more in control.

And that can give you a sense of calm.

When people begin to practice mindfulness regularly, they begin to see the world very differently. They begin to grasp that everything that they do has meaning. They also realize that no matter what they may be doing, they are always capable of doing it better.

In our professional lives, this means that we begin to pay closer attention to every task we have to do no matter how small or seemingly minor. We begin to understand that each particular job fits into others. Together they make up the whole enterprise. If we take a shortcut or cut corners on a small task, it only serves to undermine the finished product or outcome.

When you try to do the most basic task to the very best of your ability, on the other hand, a mindful mindset carries over into other areas of your life. It brings a new level of excellence to your entire experience.

It helps you experience your life in a more meaningful way.

Use every experience you have, every day as long as you live, as a moment to learn something new. Be mindful of lazy behaviors that you may have developed over time. Work to change them into more positive and productive actions. Your entire professional life will benefit from this simple attention to detail.

As this practice becomes part of your day-to-day behavior, you will also begin to appreciate all the life experiences you have had and the value you bring to every endeavor.

Use your life experiences to your advantage.

I sometimes work with individuals who worry that their age creates a barrier to their finding a new career. I won't kid you. Ageism is real. But you can make the problem worse if you are overly apologetic about your age. And what good will that do? You can't go back in time. You are the age you are.

Don't buy into the idea that age is necessarily a liability when changing your career. If I could change directions and start a whole new career at the age of 60, you can start something new whatever your age. In my case, my experience was definitely an asset, and I have used it that way.

Take stock of your life and work experiences and see the value in them.

What you need to be willing to do is see your age and experience in a new light. Think of the value you have to offer compared to someone who is just starting out and doesn't have any work experience yet. You have a lot of offer!

So be mindful of your self-worth and the value of your professional worth and the value of your experiences. They all contribute to your ability to be an asset in the new career that you may be interested in pursuing.

And don't forget that it is never too late to learn something new.

You don't have to go back to school to start all over, get a new degree, or spend thousands of dollars for training. You may be able to take a course or two that will give you some new skills that you can use in your new endeavor. 

So, what is it you want to do next in your professional life? Don't know?

I can help you figure it out!

I am offering a live workshop on Saturday, June 15th at 2:00 PM EST entitled, "Are You Ready for a Career Change? Help for the Mid-Life Professional Who is Ready to Change Their Career."

To register, click here:  https://events.genndi.com/register/169105139238447032/91bd644592.

Want to learn more about how I might help you transition from what you are doing now into something new and more satisfying? Make an appointment for a 20-minute complimentary session. To access my calendar, click here:  http://kittyboitnott.coachesconsole.com/calendar.

Until next time.