One Inspired Thought

Many times when I am working with people who want to make a change in their career, the stumbling block is often not knowing where to start. Often we think that we need to create a long list of things to do and it starts to feel like a list of ‘shoulds'. Once this occurs it is very difficult to get motivated and enthused. The reason for wanting change is because we are no longer happy with what we do in our current job. The last thing we need to do is create another list of ‘shoulds' and ‘have to's'!

If we try to force ourselves to follow the ‘shoulds' it doesn't matter what we do, if our heart's not in it then it won't work. Two examples:

A friend decided that he had to get real about his business, grit his teeth and dive into the world of Internet marketing. It wasn't natural to him and he didn't enjoy the process, each new task bringing more and more stress. After six months he had done a huge amount of work with very little to show for it. He'd followed a ‘should'.

Another friend also wanted to get real about her business but when working with a coach made the decision to only do the things that felt good. She followed the ‘one inspired thought' theory. This is an idea that once we get an inspired thought, even if it doesn't seem to fit in with the flow of things, follow it immediately.

These inspired thoughts literally appear in our minds. They can be prompted by some outer source; something a friend or coach says, an article in a newspaper, an interview on the radio, but the thought itself comes with that feeling of "YES".

This friend of mine's thought was to call an agency she had just heard about. They didn't actually deal in the kind of freelance contracts she wanted but that didn't stop her. The feeling was right. That one phone call gave her the contract she was looking for and she hasn't looked back.

As you go through the process of career shifting you will be doing many things; rewriting your CV, research into new areas, creating your budget for the move, getting clear about what you want in your new career. I suggest you add one thing to the top of your list. Listen for that inspired thought. Don't dismiss it if it doesn't quite fit your parameters, often this thought is far more expansive than the limits we put in place.

We may also get more than one inspired thought and that is great. The main thing is that it has that feeling of inspiration that will motivate you even further.

It might feel big and it might feel scary, but even so it feels right, and the idea of it excites you. It makes you feel good and that is always an indication that you are on the right track. Once you get that YES feeling, the goose bumps, follow it then and there. Do not allow your mind to talk you out of it. No procrastinating, no toning it down, simply do it. What have you got to lose?