The truth is that at some point you will be faced, either by necessity or conscious choice, to reinvent your career and your professional identity.
The numbers speak for themselves: According to an Indeed study, between 2022 and 2024, 64% of workers who transitioned to new jobs had changed careers. Some had switched to a more flexible work schedule and hybrid options. Others made the move for more fulfilling work.
What Does Reinvention Take?
It takes creativity, resourcefulness, and strategic planning, all of which are impossible without a strong inner core of values and mental health. Your successful reinvention is a direct reflection of your inner psychology. This includes what you value, what you expect from life, and how you react to the challenges you’re going to face.
I think there is great potential for psychotherapy and counseling to help people chart their inner map to success. It can help them recognize their inner state and improve it through understanding and the basics of neuropsychology to gear for change and performance.
Callie’s Journey: Finding Direction Through Therapy
I have an example in one of my former clients, Callie (not her real name):
Callie was a bright 28-year-old Ivy League graduate with all the “right” credentials. She got a good job at one of the country’s top financial investment firms. And she was well on her way to making her first million before she was 40.
She was highly regarded by her colleagues and “higher-ups.” Coming from a working-class family, Callie prized security and achievement. So, her current career path seemed ideal. Everyone told her she was set for life.
The problem was that Callie was suffering from symptoms of both anxiety and depression. She was suffering from panic attacks and insomnia. She cried over the slightest problem she encountered at home and was inexplicably irritated at her fiancé.
She knew in her heart her current job, which looked perfect on the outside, was nothing that she wanted for her life. She longed for a less pressured environment that was also in alignment with her values.
It was very clear that Callie was intellectually capable of doing her job (She had the highest grades of anyone in her Ivy League MBA program). It was also clear that she had grit and determination (She overcame a poor background, which called on her to try harder than all of her classmates).
What Callie lacked was an inner map that reflected her values and her personal needs, allowing her to achieve professional success. After therapy, Callie was able to do this. She eventually switched her career path to being an executive in an innovative company providing women’s healthcare.
She switched from the mindset of “making her first million” to helping her first million.
And while it was only a minor pay bump, the peace of mind it gave Callie was invaluable. She wasn’t into making a fortune but attracting it by aligning her values with her efforts.
The bottom line is: Markets are fickle, and the economy is unpredictable, as is the future for employment. The only sure thing is you. Your inner map determines your future.
About the Author:
Susan Podbielski
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
With over 10 years of experience as a licensed therapist, Susan Podbielski specializes in helping people overcome anxiety, depression, and the debilitating effects of past trauma through a practical, collaborative approach.
She combines evidence-based tools, including CBT, DBT, mindfulness, and self-compassion techniques, to meet each client’s specific needs and goals.