Good Morning digital family.
A few days ago a friend and I were catching up and I recalled one of the most traumatic questions I used to get when I was younger. That’s how today’s digital issue started.
When I was younger, adults would ask me: 'What do you want to be when you're older'.
It was an innocent enough question and they probably meant no harm, however, my young mind would begin racing and I would stumble on some sort of word salad that would hopefully impress them.
I didn’t know what I was saying but the plan was to impress them. The truth is, I just never liked the question. It didn’t make sense in my head. The first part of the question (what do you want to be) seemed so static and fixed whereas the latter part of the question (when you're older) seemed so modal and fluid. Were they really expecting to commit to a job and career there and then?
Fast forward 18 years and I still feel the same way about the question. I find the fixed nature of it disconcerting and it seems that I’m not the only one.
A global poll conducted by Gallup has uncovered that out of the world’s one billion full-time workers, only 15% of people are engaged at work. That means that an astronomical 85% of people are unhappy in their jobs.
This statistic always scares me because it means when you look around on a crowded tube train in London at people rushing to their jobs, heads down in newspapers, smartphones in one hand, most of them (85%) are unhappy with what they spend most of their time doing.
Why then don't they quit, pick up a hobby, and explore passions and interests? Its because most are terrified of having to reinvent themselves, of disappointing others and of what social media and platforms like Linkedin might have to say about it.
What does reinventing yourself mean?
Reinventing yourself means identifying patterns, values, or activities that no longer serve you and changing them for better options. It can involve external characteristics, like job, hobbies, appearance, relationships, and location. True reinvention also happens inside, in how you think and behave. It will be different for everybody, which is what makes it so powerful.
This can be interpreted in a number of different ways. For some people, self-reinvention means a major career change. While for others, it could mean breaking bad habits or adopting a new life skill.
Reinventing yourself is not a standard process with a specific textbook or map. It’s important to view your own reinvention as a journey of self-discovery. Reinventing yourself is related to finding your ikigai, or your "reason for being."
In nature, we can observe self-reinvention happening all the time. Birds molt, seasons change, and snakes shed their old skin when it is time to grow a new one. Despite this, many of us have locked ourselves into what our social media bio says that we are.
All of these processes are indicators of our natural need for change and evolution. It is the force that prompts us to let go of the past, step outside our comfort zone, and move forward into the future.
Reasons to reinvent yourself
I’m convinced everyone should spend time taking stock and asking themselves whether they are happy with who they are becoming. In other words, is what I’m doing repeatedly making me more like who I want to be or less?
Here are some reasons to reinvent yourself
You’re looking for a career change. Many people aspire to change careers when they’ve been in the same line of work for too long. Careers take up so much of our time and energy. Sticking to one for years on end can leave us feeling ready for adventure.
You’re going through an existential crisis. Sometimes, what bothers us most is a sense of existential confusion about what we are meant to be doing in life. Nothing is wrong, exactly. In fact, life might be pretty good... but it lacks meaning, and we're no longer okay with that. When we let our unhappiness stick around for too long, it can cause a major reassessment.
You need a change. There doesn’t always have to be an exact reason why you crave self-reinvention. It could be that it is simply time for a seasonal shift to occur in your life. From a new haircut to breaking up with your toxic partner, change is a natural thing to desire.
You’re seeking fulfilment out of life. Wanting to reinvent yourself could come from your desire for personal fulfilment and deeper meaning and purpose in your activities and how you spend your time. This need for self-improvement tends to happen when we acknowledge how much time we’ve wasted on things that don’t bring us joy or meaning.
When it comes down to it, you don’t need a reason to justify wanting change in some areas of your life. But understanding why that yearning exists is still beneficial. You don’t need these reasons validated by other people, they just need to be important to and for you.
What I’ve learned sitting down with people.
I’ve helped more than 30 people leave their full-time jobs in the city and find something else to do at this stage. Now, there is nothing wrong with working in the city of London and for some people, it’s exactly where they need to remain. However, this said, I have noticed a trend of people choosing jobs because of the salary and social status it afford them. This is a mistake. It’s a shame because 100% of them regret it and in a few years they have to go down a very hard path of retracing their steps and finding purpose and passion again.
You are better off using your natural passions and skills as clues about where you ought to be. Rather than simply following money, the truth is, as you get better at things, you will naturally earn more and make more impact anyways
How you can go about re-investing yourself.
1. Start with self-understanding and self-awareness
One of the first steps you can take towards reinventing yourself is self-awareness. This means actively assessing your situation and what you would like to achieve.
Who are you now? What are your strengths and weaknesses? What are you really scared of?
Contemplate your current position in life and what brought you to where you are now. Think about what you’d like to achieve in the next five years and where you would like to be in the future.
2. Define your core values
One really useful practice is defining your core values. It will be much easier to make positive changes if you know exactly what they look like and why you want them.
Use these core values to create a personal vision statement that will orient you toward how you want to reinvent yourself.
I did the same thing on social media earlier this week. You should follow @mikeomoniyics
Don't Be Afraid To Re-Invent Yourself
Love this! Thank you