We are raised to believe that securing a good job and building a successful career is the key to happiness and feeling accomplished in life. From an early age, the focus is on getting good grades, going to college, rounding out the perfect resume, and landing that dream job that will allow us to “secure the bag.”
But at what point does the pursuit of professional success cause us to lose touch with our authentic selves? When our entire identity becomes defined by our career, it can lead to some troubling beliefs and patterns:
- We base our self-worth entirely on professional achievements and employment status rather than our innate value as human beings.ย We don’t know how to find fulfillment outside of work because our lives revolve around it.
- When someone asks “Who are you?” or “What do you do?”, we instinctively just describe our job title and work responsibilities.
- We avoid diving deeper into self-exploration for fear it will make us seem “weak” or “unimportant” if we don’t have an impressive career to define us.
The truth is, tying your identity so tightly to your career can lead to anxiety, burnout, and an overall sense of emptiness. You are so much more than your job title or income level. But rediscovering your most authentic self requires bravery – bravery to ask yourself some difficult introspective questions:
Define success for yourself. What does it truly mean to you rather than society’s definitions? Explore if you are chasing unrealistic expectations.
Identify your core values. What principles are most important to you that should guide your overall life and decisions?
Clarify your wants and desires. Not what you “should” want, but what you actually want for yourself when you peel back the influences of others.
Only through this honest self-inquiry can you begin to peel back the layers of your work-issued identity and reconnect with the core of who you are as an individual. Having a career is great, but it should be an extension of your authenticity – not the sole source.
