The Wisdom of Mid-career Coaching

Do you know what truly matters most to you?

I’ve been posting about mid-career crisis in this recent series of blogs. However, this time is really an opportunity for you to reconnect to what you love about your life and your career so that you can gracefully cross some of the bridges ahead. If you haven’t given this considerable thought, consider retaining an accredited coach to guide you through self-examination and reflection on what truly matters most to you. 

Often at at this pivotal time of life, clinging to the status quo may, on the surface, appear to be a safer, mature choice. Nothing could be further from the truth. Redoubling your efforts to achieve happiness based on what drove you in the first half of life is foolish. Consider the metaphor of a bridge. If you stay on one side because of comfort of fear, you don't enjoy the benefits of the other side.

In the second half of life, facing our failures and losses facilitates course corrections. We are rewarded with deeper, more fulfilling life and career experiences. Avoiding life’s natural progressions prevents you from broadening consciousness and becoming your authentic self. 

Midcareer is a time to examine regrets and accept mistakes. An accredited coach with specific training in midlife transitions can help you turn failures into meaningful learning opportunities. You won’t need to bury bad memories. Greater self-acceptance opens new avenues.

Unfortunately, most of us work so hard to obtain an identity that we have a difficult time letting go. What worked earlier in your career is nearly always inadequate to meet the challenges of your mature years, as Marshall Goldsmith proved in What Got You Here Won’t Get You There (Hachette Books, 2007).

Acknowledging dissatisfaction at this midpoint in your life and career opens a window to exploring your options. Ask yourself:

• What steps must I take to transition to the next stage of my life?
• Can I give myself permission to explore new paths?
• How does fear keep me in a reactive stance, constrained by outmoded routines?
• Am I content to live partially, or am I ready and willing to explore new ways of thinking and feeling?
• Can I gather the energy needed to realize my unlived potential?
• How can I take one small step?

The age-old Serenity Prayer comes to mind:

“Grant me the courage to change the things I can, to accept the things I can’t, and the wisdom to know the difference.” ~ Reinhold Niebuhr

The key, of course, is to know the difference. What about you? I'd love to hear from you.

Finding a Champion.... An Accredited Coach

If you are currently reassessing your work and life at midlife, mid-career, or after an illness or other setback, I strongly recommend finding an accredited coach who specializes in this transition and who will be your champion. Look for a coach who is certified in Emotional Intelligence. You can find a coach on the International Coach Federation (ICF) website - "Need Coaching?".  Or, contact me. I would love to assist you in finding the best coach for you. I refer only to world-class coaches who are my trusted colleagues.

Contact me at  [email protected], at 905-858-7566, on LinkedIn, Maestro’s Facebook, Twitter. 

Related Blogs:

• The Search for What's Next and Who Am I Now?
• Mid-Career U-Curve - Purpose-Driven Disruption
• Rinse and Repeat - A Midlife Crisis Narrative
• Mid-Career Challenges - Crisis or Opportunity?
• Set a New Direction: Re-evaluate Your Values and Update Your Identity to Re-Ignite Your Mojo