Empowering Change: Career Transitions for Those Overcoming Trauma

In the journey of life, we often encounter unexpected challenges that force us to reevaluate our paths. For those who have faced trauma, whether it be from personal struggles or external events, navigating the terrain of a career transition can feel like an uphill battle.

However, there is hope, strength, and resilience that can propel you toward not just a new job but a fulfilling and empowering career. This article explores the transformative process of career transitions for trauma survivors, highlighting key strategies and insights to foster growth and empowerment.

Change as an Opportunity

Many survivors reach out to me because they have been displaced (or, for my UK friends…made redundant), left a job due to their triggers, or are in between jobs, and they are very concerned about being able to work and pay their bills. Being in a season of transition can feel very “wobbly” and unsteady.

Perhaps you were the cause of the work separation, and you are beating yourself up for it. Maybe you had to step away from work for a season to address your mental health, and you are questioning whether you want to go back to work or whether you should search for another opportunity that isn’t as triggering.

Whatever the reason code, I invite you to see this as a wonderful opportunity rather than a threat to your survival. I like to look at these seasons as an adventure or a treasure hunt. What new adventure can you imagine for yourself?

Putting the Past to Rest

Before we head on this new journey together, I highly encourage you to “turn the page” on the last chapter so you can focus on how you would like to write the next chapter in the book of your life.

What lessons can you glean and take with you into the next adventure? Where would you like to do better? What new skills would you like to learn? Is there something that you did not get the opportunity to do in your last assignment that you would like to try?

Perhaps you can ask yourself what you liked about your last job. What didn’t you like? What did you learn about yourself? What skills did you learn? When were you at your best? What situations were challenging for you?

These questions should be asked with a spirit of gentleness and self-compassion. None of us are perfect. We are all in the process of learning how to do better every day…so go easy on yourself.

Then, turn the page and close the chapter out with gratitude for everything you’ve learned that you can take with you as you move forward.

Focus on You

This recommendation is going to turn the stomachs of some people. I can just about hear all the noise from those inner child parts who were told that they were being selfish by focusing on themselves.

I’m not sure how to say this gently, but finding a job is an individual activity, not a team sport. This means that you need to know yourself. You need to know what you like to do and don’t do. You need to know what you’re good at and not so good at. You need to know where you are gifted and not gifted. You need to know what you are passionate about and could care less about. You need to know what you are qualified for or whether you need a qualification to secure a particular job.

One of the main challenges trauma survivors face is having an identity of their own instead of what they’ve needed to morph into to stay safe. It often was not safe for us to explore our identity during the critical formative years, so now, when we get to our mid-career, we don’t know who we are and have an identity crisis.

Pausing to reflect on who you truly are from the inside out (not inside your work armor) is an amazingly courageous activity and one that demonstrates great healing. Anyone can jump at the next opportunity that comes their way when operating from a place of scarcity, but those who practice the pause will have much better outcomes.

Dare to Dream

Most of us did not have the opportunity to dream because it was not safe. As I mentioned already, we use up more of our mental capacity trying to secure a sense of safety. Taking risks on something we’ve dreamed about doing was something our overtaxed nervous systems could tolerate.

I encourage you to take some time to regulate your nervous system before entering this phase. Once you are regulated, take a few minutes, maybe two to five minutes, titrating between your dream and reality until you build up your tolerance to hold space for your dream.

Your inner critic is bound to come out during this time, so don’t be surprised by that. I recommend thanking your inner critic for doing his/her job to keep you safe while taking ownership of your safety…at least for the moment.

Then, let your mind dream with no boundaries and no limitations. If you still hear your inner critic shooting down and bringing negativity into your dream, simply notice it and say, “I’ll come back to that later.”

Notice what happens in your body as you dream. Does your dream align or feel consistent with your identity, or is there inner resistance to the dream? Try to resist any judgment at this time and remain open to whatever comes up for you. Perhaps your dream seems too big, too far away, or not achievable…that’s OK. You will have an opportunity later to determine how to get to where you want to be.

I recommend journaling about your dream, but if you aren’t a writer, perhaps you can create a voice memo or video on your phone. You don’t have to share it with anyone if you choose not to. You are just recording your experience in a way that seems right for you. How did your body feel…how did your nervous system feel…what thoughts were going through your mind?

Chart Your Course

Have you ever heard the saying, “Those who fail to plan, plan to fail”? As much as I would love to tell you that your dream will magically come true, that is not the case. You need to be intentional, courageous, and persistent…and that means:

Do the research. What is it going to take to achieve your dream? What training do you need? What certification do you need? What support do you need? What do you already have in your personal inventory?

Take small steps. As with trauma therapy, if you try to move faster than your nervous system can tolerate, you will become overwhelmed, and your progress may be inhibited. What is the smallest, easiest, and most immediate action step you can take?

Believe in yourself. Constantly battling negative thoughts about whether you will be able to achieve your dream is exhausting and sucks up the energy that you need to make your dream a reality. In times of uncertainty, I often tell myself that I am going to assume the positive until proven otherwise. Don’t be afraid to claim your superpowers.

Seek support and guidance. As difficult as it is to have a conversation with a perfect stranger, it can be extremely helpful to have an exploration conversation with someone in the field you want to go into. I have found that most people enjoy talking about themselves and what they do (unless they hate it, and in that case, I wouldn’t recommend talking to them 😉 !!). I love hearing about what people do, what they love and hate about the job, what the challenges and rewards are, etc. It helps me make an informed decision about whether I still want to pursue that dream.

Know your limits. If your dream job takes place in an environment that is extremely triggering for you, perhaps that is not the right answer for you at this time. That does not mean you shouldn’t ever pursue it; it just means that, for now, it is not right for me. Perhaps with more healing, you will get closer to your dream.

Embrace a Growth Mindset. A career transition is not just about changing jobs but undergoing personal and professional growth. Embrace a growth mindset that views challenges as opportunities for learning and development. Understand that setbacks are a natural part of any journey, and resilience lies in your ability to adapt and evolve. Cultivate a positive outlook, focus on continuous learning, and be open to new experiences. This mindset shift can be a driving force in propelling your career forward.

Conclusion

Transitioning to a new career as a trauma survivor is a courageous journey of empowerment and self-discovery. By doing the research, taking small steps, believing in yourself, seeking support and guidance, knowing your limits, and embracing a growth mindset, you can navigate this process with resilience and determination.

Remember, your past does not define your future, and every step you take toward a new career is a testament to your strength and capacity for positive change. Empower yourself, embrace the possibilities, and step confidently into a brighter professional future. You’ve got this!!!

An Invitation

If you are looking for an online community of other resilient overcomers focusing on their careers, I invite you to join The Resilient Career Academy™ Community. (RCA Community)

The RCA Community is a FREE group dedicated to helping/supporting those working to overcome adversity to achieve their full potential in their careers.

The benefits to you are:

• Community — The community provides support, encouragement, the ability to share frustrations and get feedback from people who understand the struggle
• Workplace/Career Resources — The group provides tools, resources, and templates to help you with your career journey
• Available Coaching Support — The community is supported by trained and certified coaches who are available for individual sessions
• Learning — You will have access to various trauma/workplace-related online courses developed by our coaches to help you in your journey
• Workshops/Webinars — You will have access to practical workshops/webinars targeted to help you in the workplace grow your career

If you are interested in joining us, click here: https://resilientcareeracademy.myflodesk.com/community

As always, you do not have to walk this journey alone. Contact me to schedule your free discovery call.

Trigger Tracker Template — This is a FREE resource to help you keep track of the triggers in your workplace and plan the coping strategies you will use to get through the experience.

Get on the waiting list for The Resilient Career Academy™. You won’t want to miss it.

If you want to stay informed on the programs, tools, and training I offer, sign up for my mailing list.

You can also visit my website for more information on courses and other freebies I offer at: https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com.

Photo by Paul Fiedler on Unsplash