Home»Blog for Introverts/HSPs»
 » 

How To Find Your Right Career Path: Myths and Truths

How To Find Your Right Career Path: Myths and Truths

I notice people tend to think one or both of these methods is how people find out their ideal career path or “right livelihood”:

  1. That it will just come in a flash and then you’re all set for life, you know, like it did for so-and-so (supposedly).
  2. That you can do a few exercises in a book or take a quiz online to find the “one” right path.

Sadly, those thoughts are often accompanied with, “Since those things didn’t work for me, I must be broken. I’ll never find my right career path.” 😔

I have heard something like that so many times and it hurts my heart. Luckily I can reassure them right away, those paths don’t work for most people. You’re not broken, and there is a way to find your path. 🌿

What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? How to know your ideal career path.
Too many people live with this question about their ideal career path, and don’t know how to answer it.

I don’t think either of those expected ways to find your ideal career path is enough for something like deep clarity and knowing where you want to go in life. You wouldn’t be here on this page if you could have figured it out on your own by now.

Figuring out why you’re here on earth and how to make your best career path work in practical ways is big stuff! And yet, the steps to uncover that are simple, just not commonly known.

Why It’s Been Too Hard to Know Your Best Career Path

The public schools in my part of the world were originally designed to create obedient workers, not naturally creative humans who want to truly contribute their gifts.

Maybe that obedience model was the kind of school you went to. I know I did. It wasn’t all bad. Just not enough to find my way.

We are also unconsciously influenced by money-driven mass media to focus on money, looks, and status as signs of success, but that is not satisfying to our hearts. I know you’re about more than external approval.

As a result of all these unhelpful influences, many people spend decades down a road that doesn’t feel “true.” I believe that all that time on a wrong path is the cause of a lot of misery, anxiety, and the so-called mid-life crisis.

image - Maze of confusion

Another factor making it hard to know, is that most people actually can’t figure out their career path or life purpose alone, or at least not without some kind of a map and some input from outside your own head.

It’s not you. It’s just how we are built that we can’t see ourselves without some honest helpful reflection. Like looking in a mirror for the first time.

For instance, people often can’t even see their own strengths, which is a critical piece of the puzzle for choosing your best direction.

Ya gotta pick something that you’re naturally good at (your natural talents) or it will lead to burnout and unhappiness. But if you can’t see your strengths, how can you choose well?

It’s not your fault. But I’m confident you can take action to correct course at any age.

My Winding Path to Career Discovery

I remember as I was nearing high school graduation, I felt very confused about what was out there in the world and how I was supposed to fit into it. It just seemed like I was supposed to go a certain narrow way whether it felt right to me or not.

When I met with my high school guidance counselor, she was mainly focused on my taking more typing classes so I could be a secretary, apparently like women were supposed to be in her mind. I knew enough to know that was not my only option.

Even then I knew something was wrong with the system that the path would still be so foggy after 12 years(!) in school. It really aggravated me. College only helped a little, but not enough. I started grad school as another way to figure things out, but then dropped out to just go out and muddle through.

I tried out many paths less taken as a way to figure it out. Still, I remember spending years in therapy, reading career books, taking career assessments, trying new things, and still feeling like I didn’t know the best use of me.

And then a few things were helpful here and there.

Eventually talking to a career coach helped me choose a simple next step that led to some important awakenings which then led to starting the coaching business I have today.

I have continued learning and refining as I go, and I’ve reached out for help along the way too.

It’s not a destination, it’s a journey because we are always evolving. I’ve actually “discovered” my path many times, such as when I review what’s working in my business and I make adjustments that make it even better over time.

Ironically, in my case, all that time exploring about the topic of careers actually led me to being a career and business coach. Turns out I was reading those career and business books for fun. A sign!

Where To Turn to Find Your Career Path

There are lots of options for where to find some support.

  1. If you have some clear-enough ideas but have trouble finding the words:
    Consider hiring an experienced résumé writer who can find the positive story in the so-called mess. The process itself can sometimes help you find clarity.
  2. If you are tired of feeling like the only one in a career transition:
    Look for a group of kindred spirits in the same boat because the transition journey can take a while and you might need someone to toss you a life jacket sometimes. (You can consider my small group community for Explorers.)
  3. If you feel like it’s time to fully regroup, rethink, or recover your work sanity:
    That’s a perfect time for a career coach.
  4. For a low-budget starting place:
    You can look for an online course by a career coach. (I offer a Career Clarity Course, “Simple Steps to Uncover the Best Use of You Now”.)
  5. If you wonder about self-employment as an option:
    I offer a course that gives you a behind-the-scenes understanding of how self-employment can work for introverts and HSPs, without the hustle. > Bridge to Self-employment.
  6. If you want to take one small self-discovery step today:
    Ask a trusted friend what they think are your strengths and for any ideas they have for you. It might surprise you. They can often see what we can’t see in ourselves.

If You Want to Find a Career or Business Coach

Here are some tips for choosing well:

  1. For introverts or highly sensitive people (HSP), consider finding an introvert and/or HSP specialist or program so they will get you easily and quickly. (Too often the typical advice is more geared for others.)
  2. If it’s easy to schedule a free initial call before hiring a career coach, that seems like a good sign too.
  3. In your initial call, make sure you feel heard and understood in general. The “click” means you’ll get faster and more useful results.
  4. The person you turn to doesn’t need to be local since these options can and usually happen by phone or video calls.

A Simple Way to Start with Career Clarity

For a long time I wanted to make this process easier and more accessible for more people, especially for introverts and highly sensitive people who feel so stuck in their current draining path.

So I spent months putting together lessons for an online course to walk you through the process in a caring way. I also interviewed people about their career discovery process and included the best of those interview moments inside the course.

Now the course is available on a sliding scale and even no cost in some cases, because I just felt called. This has been an exciting accomplishment in my own career, to create this for you. It includes ways to connect with me and your kindred spirits taking the course. You can have a peek at it, and hop in any time: Career Clarity Course

In the meantime, I’m sending you compassion for being in that confusing place.

You don’t have to go it alone.

Val Nelson

Val Nelson

I’ve been a self-employed career/business/purpose coach since 2009. I help introverts and HSPs (like me) who want to make a difference — in a way that fits our practical needs too.
Val Nelson | Coaching | Groups | Courses | Newsletter | LinkedIn

I appreciate feedback, good and bad. You can comment below or email.

Leave a Comment

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Learn how introverts and HSPs make self‑employment work... without the hustle.

Get INsights to make work more meaningful and less stressful for INtroverts and highly sensitive people (HSPs).

Get work INsights for INtroverts & HSPs.

No time to read this right now?

Send it to yourself to read later! 

(Your email is not used for anything else.)

Search

Top Articles

my work is too draining

Is your career too draining?

It might not feel like it right now, but work can be energizing and fulfilling, even for introverts and HSPs. There is a way. Here are 3 paths to find your way to your right career path.

Read More »