There are many blocks to your dream job. It can be a challenging and elusive goal for many people, who are seeking a career that is truly meaningful and satisfying. Whether we’re stuck in a job that doesn’t fulfil us, lacks meaning or struggling to find the motivation and inspiration to pursue our passions, it can be difficult to break free and do work that truly resonates with us.
So what exactly stops us? What’s are the blocks to your dream job? Here are some common barriers that might be holding us back.
Blocks to your Dream Job
Not knowing ourselves
How can we create work that is truly satisfying and fits us, if we don’t really know ourselves. What drives and motivates us to work? What’s important to us about our work? What are our true innate talents? How do we love to spend our time? When we can’t really answer these questions, well, how do we expect to create work that we love!
Fear of failure
Many of us are afraid to take the risk of pursuing work that we’d feel passionate about and would be meaningful because we’re worried about failing. We might be concerned about not having the skills or experience necessary to succeed, or about being judged by others if we don’t succeed. This fear can hold us back from even trying to discover and create work that we love, keeping us stuck in unfulfilling jobs.
Lack of a clear path
Often times, we don’t have a clear path from where we are to where we want to be. This situation causes us to get stuck in paralysis, spinning around in our heads, wanting to know the complete trajectory, trying to find the answer, without taking any real action, because of our fear of the unknown.
Lack of confidence and belief
Sometimes, we might not believe in ourselves enough to pursue our passions. We might feel like we don’t have the talent or abilities necessary to succeed, or that we’re not good enough to follow our deepest desires. This lack of confidence can prevent us from taking the steps necessary to turn our passions, values, and interests into a career.
Limited time and resources
Many of us have limited time and resources, and it can be difficult to balance our commitments with the desire to make a living from that which we love and believe in. We might feel like we don’t have the time or energy to pursue our passions, or that we don’t have the financial resources to invest in our goals.
Lack of support
It can be difficult to pursue work we love if we don’t have the support of those around us. We might feel like our friends and family don’t understand our goals, or that they don’t believe in our ability to succeed. This lack of support can be discouraging and make it harder to pursue our dreams.
Discomfort with change
Change can be scary, and pursuing our desire for fulfilling work often requires us to step outside our comfort zones. We might be hesitant to leave a stable job or to try something new, even if it means longer term happiness. Like any change, typically there is inertia to maintain the status quo.
Pressure to conform
Society frequently places pressure on us to conform to certain expectations and norms, and this can make it difficult to step out and stand up for we what know we want and believe in deep down. We are conditioned to think and behave in certain ways from our parents and education. For example, we might feel like we’re supposed to follow a certain career path or that we should prioritise financial stability over personal fulfilment.
Strategies to get you moving!
All that said, how can we overcome these barriers and create work we love? Here are some strategies that might help:
I’d say the first step to happiness, fulfilment, and success is, as in the words of Socrates, “Know thyself”. People who embark on trying to their dream job, without this first step, often end up going around in circles.
Go on a journey of self discovery
Find out what makes you tick, what drives you, what you believe in and want to make a stand for. What are your innate gifts and talents? What kind of environments do you thrive in? You could go on this journey through journaling or reflection, or with the help of a coach who can guide you in diving deeper in a structured way.
Self discovery is the key!
Learn how to navigate
Creating work you love, is not a one time affair. Having work that fits you is an ongoing process of adjustment as you evolve and grow. Learning the skill of listening to the truest, most authentic part of yourself is vital in having a satisfying and fulfilling career. It will help you navigate through all the decisions you will make over your working life. So start now, learn how to deeply connect to yourself, beyond the superficial chatter of your mind, to listen to the whole of you, not just what your head tells you, but also your heart and your gut! Reconnect to yourself through things like meditation, mindfulness, time in nature or whatever activity brings you to a state of peace, clarity, and aliveness.
Build your skills and knowledge
If you’re worried about not having the skills or experience necessary to succeed, consider investing in your education and training. Take courses, attend workshops, and seek out mentors who can help you build the knowledge and skills you need to pursue your passions, those things you’re interested in for their own sake, and make you come alive. Doing this is an easy way to test out an area of interest without a lot of risk.
Find your confidence
If you’re struggling with a lack of confidence, try to identify the root cause of your doubts. Are you comparing yourself to others? Are you focusing on your weaknesses instead of your strengths? Are you surrounded by people who knock you down? What goes on in your head? Once you understand what’s causing your lack of confidence, you can start to work on building it up. With awareness, you can work on retraining your thoughts or changing your environment to one that’s more supportive.
Make time for your passions
If you’re struggling to find the time or energy to pursue your passions, try to prioritise them in your schedule. This might mean making time for your passions or a side project after work or on the weekends, or finding a project at work which feels more aligned to what’s important to you.
Seek out support
If you don’t have the support of those around you, try to find a community of like-minded individuals who can offer encouragement and guidance. This might mean joining a group or club related to your passions, or finding online communities where you can connect with others who share your interests and aspirations. Or it might be that you seek out a career coach to guide you step by step on your journey of self discovery, to find out what you have to offer, and begin to take action towards creating work that is fulfilling and meaningful.
Start taking action
I’m not recommending you quit your job tomorrow, but if you want to create the work of your dreams, you need to move on from purely researching and thinking about a change. An action is something that has an impact in the world or in you. By taking action, you begin to get feedback, and since you’re not at the same point, new ways forward get revealed.
Actions can be small to begin with, which help you find your direction and build confidence. Perhaps you can begin with some of the things I’ve suggested in this article.
To see how you happy you are with your current work, you could try out my Work Happiness Index, it gives you a clear perspective of where you currently are, what’s important to you, what’s working and where the gaps are.
Or if you’re in the process of launching your own business, have a look at the Ikigai Entrepreneur Assessment, it guides you in launching a business that fits you, with the next steps you can take and the pitfalls to avoid.
Conclusion
While it can be challenging and sometimes scary to embark on the quest for more satisfying work, it is definitely possible to overcome the barriers that are holding us back. By going on a journey of self discovery, building our skills and knowledge, finding our confidence, making time for our passions, seeking out support, and being open to change, we can begin to align our work to who we are.
So don’t let fear of the unknown, lack of confidence and support, limited time and resources, or pressure to conform, be blocks to your dream job! Believe in yourself enough to take the steps necessary, and you’ll be well on your way to creating work that inspires and makes you come alive, bringing you well-being, fulfilment, and joy.
Photo by Everyday basics on Unsplash
Photo by Ben Wicks on Unsplash
