Orlando Counseling Specialists

We would be kidding ourselves if we said that at some point in our lives we didn’t feel a bit anxious or at other times a bit down.  Well, we all fall somewhere on the continuum, more or less.  Even though so many of us struggle, we still feel alone, like no one would understand, like no one could grasp just how much it affects our lives.  It hurts.  We get angry and confused.  Some even get stuck.  And there are so many other words that describe what it’s like.  In this brief post I’d like to give us just a few ideas in staying engaged in the battle and actually making some headway, as difficult as it can be.

I’ve always thought honesty was one key element when walking towards a healthier you.  And it rings true when we battle anxiety and depression.  Being honest with yourself about how you feel and what you are experiencing is very important.  It is way to easy to go on living the busy life than to stop and take care of yourself.  And stopping to be honest is very important.  This should place within us a desire for change, for more.  If we let our emotions stay hidden deep within we run the risk of losing ourselves, losing the life we long for.  

Secondly, it must be said that healing is only possible in relationship.  We must not only be honest with ourselves but with others as well.  When we keep our hearts in the secret it gains the unhealthy power to isolate, to bring about shame, to avoid intimacy, or worse loneliness.  No doubt risking in such a way is fearful and scary, but think about the benefits.  I am not saying all of us who struggle need to see a counselor, but often at that time it could be our only safe place.  Being together in our pain is the only possible way to heal, in that it is most likely that our pain is a result of a broken relationship.  

Lastly, curiosity can be a driving force in getting healthy.  What is possible?  What would a stable mood feel like?  How would I experience intimacy if I could connect with others?  What would a deep rest feel like?  Is there something going on inside me that might need healing?  Is there more?  These are just some of the questions that drive me towards a healthier life.  That more satisfaction, connection, rest are possible.  

At Orlando Counseling Specialists people are being equipped to find these very things.  A safe place to be honest, be with others and dream about the possibilities. 

Are you stuck in a job you hate?  Do you feel frustrated doing the work you do?  Maybe you are sabotaging yourself by doing things you have the power to change.  Often times we have behaviors that harm our careers and hold us back from doing what we are designed to do.  If we just recognize those behaviors we can start to make a positive impact on our careers. Here are a few patters that typically hold people back:

1.        Hiding in the background- Hiders don’t speak up and allow others to get credit for their achievements.  They love to stay in the background in order to be a team player and forget their own ambitions and dreams.  The isolate themselves from key decision makers.  When opportunities arise, they have so little faith in themselves, they fail to grab onto them.  They often wonder why they are still stuck in the same job.

2.       Playing the blame game- Blamers excuse their lack of success by blaming others.

3.       Procrastinating- Procrastinators have great plans but don’t get around to carrying them through.  The trouble is that procrastination becomes a habitual way of thinking and the more entrenched it is, the harder it is to break away.

4.       Apathy- These people say “why bother” or “The system won’t let me go far anyway”.  Apathetic people give up before even trying.

5.       Avoiding the issue altogether- Avoiders keep themselves busy with unnecessary activities, such as gossip or non-work related distractions.  There’s a lot of energetic action, but they are just spinning their wheels in the sand –while others are moving ahead.

6.       Neglecting your professional development- Not keeping your skills current is a sure-fire way to sabotage your career and limit opportunities.

7.       Staying when you should go- Sometimes people know that a job doesn’t match their abilities, skills, or interests but they stick with it because they don’t know what else to do or feel they’ve already invested too much to change course.

Any of these behavior patterns over time will limit your career prospects, diminish your sense of fulfillment, and leave you with a nagging sense of frustration.  It is a slow downward spiral of settling for less.  If any of these behaviors seem familiar to you call a career counselor today and they will help you set a plan in motion on how to stop and make positive changes for your career.Call Debbie Haughton to schedule an appointment.Article retrieved from NCDA newsletter.  Written by Pamela Thorne.