Why ‘mindset’ is key to a midlife job search
So here you are…
You are officially in midlife and you are thinking WTF?
How did this happen?
&
How can I possibly find a dream career at this time of my life?
Your inner dialogue screams…
I am 40+
I am in my 50s
I am menopausal & a wreck
I am a wash out in my 60s…..
Nonsense!
First things first - let’s look at where you are at now:
You are:
Still at the same old job that you have been doing for years. Ugh.
Still at home or are transitioning from being with the kids and have been for so long you fear you don’t have any relevant skills or even know where to start
Feeling old and unattractive, out of shape and hate the hot flashes
Smack dab in the middle of menopause and feel your physical and mental clarity changing
Stuck and can’t stand the work/field you are in and want to do something new but fear you are too old to make a career change
Laid off from a job that you loved but it has been a while since you worked
Coming off a nasty divorce and feel like crap and are scared
Pissed off with the ageism you are experiencing and still can not believe with your level of experience, education and savvy you are being ignored, turned down, ghosted
On the mend from a personal health crisis and realize that your life means more than the job you were doing before you became sick
Still grieving a personal loss and feel alone and isolated and do not know where to start in your job search now that you are in your 40s, 50s, 60s….
Fill in your truth here….
Well - you are not alone. Many women in midlife face a crisis of confidence. This is both a very challenging time and can be a very exciting time - it truly depends on your mindset and learning how you can change it to grab this next phase of your life by the lady-balls to kick ass.
What is mindset?
You can think of mindset as your set of beliefs that help shape how you make sense of the world and yourself. Your mindset influences how you think, feel and behave. In a nutshell your mindset means that ‘what you believe about yourself, impacts your success or failure.’
Fixed Mindset
If you have a fixed mindset you believe that your abilities are fixed ‘traits’ and can not be changed. Possibly you may believe that your intelligence and sheer talent is what leads you to success and that perhaps effort is not required.
Growth Mindset
If you have a growth mindset you believe that those same talents and abilities can be developed over time with effort and persistence. You believe that if you work at something you can improve and achieve great things. You feel positive about growth and always seek improvement to advance.
Here are some examples of fixed and growth *Mindsets - do you see yourself in one of these?
Growth Mindset
I can learn to do anything I want
I'm a constantly evolving work in progress
The more I challenge myself, the smarter I become
I only fail when I stop trying
That job position looks challenging - let me apply for it
Fixed Mindset
If I don’t try, then I won’t fail
Either I’m good at it or I’m not
That's just who I am…I can't change it
If I have to work hard - I don't have the ability
That job position is totally out of my league
You are more than capable of changing the way you think and feel about your life and work!
You can CHANGE your MINDSET!
Here are a few tips to get started:
Kick the negative self talk to the curb where it belongs - start paying attention to the language you use about yourself, those around you and your career opportunities. Once you start becoming aware of your negative patterns of thought you can begin to create a growth mindset through positive thinking
Make mistakes - try things you are afraid of - learn and grow. Do not be afraid of trying and making a mistake - this is the sweet spot of growth. So the next time a big scary challenge comes along - go for it and if you mess up that is 100% ok - try again
Think about your journey and what you want it to look like. Don't focus so much on the end result (which of course can be hard when you need an income or to help support your family). But try and hang out in the ‘journey zone’ and enjoy it - you are seeing the value of your hard work and change and are increasing your growth mindset daily
There is this wonderful word ‘yet’. This wee word can become one of your new bff’s - start using ‘yet’ when you become overwhelmed or unsure. This mighty word reminds you that you can overcome anything you put your mind to. For example “I haven't mastered ChatGPT yet….but when I do look out!
I hope you can see how your mindset is possibly holding you back from being more powerful now and I hope you can take some baby steps by adjusting your mindset to make the change in your career that you want. Remember your mindset is not static - you can change it with positive intentions.
I will leave you with a few questions you can mull over to get you started on your mindset shift and as always feel free to reach out if you want to talk about your career and life!
Can you identify some of the things that may be holding you back from making the changes you want? Can you identify what your mindset is around these issues?
Can you list what your values are and how you live by your values in your personal and professional life?
When was the last time you truly felt any passion in your life? How did you feel? What were the circumstances? Do you want to feel that way again? What are your limiting beliefs around sparking your passion again? How will you get your passion mojo back?
What is stopping you from making the changes you know you have to make and want to make? Can you pause for a moment and pretend that those obstacles are not there - what would your life look like then and how would you proceed?
How do you feel about yourself? Do you like who you are? Why or why not? What mindsets have you set up or lived with since you were a child that you can shift to move towards acceptance and fulfillment?
Do you believe that you can thrive in a career in midlife? If not, what beliefs or mindsets are stopping you from thriving? What changes can you make today?
* References
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-mindset-2795025
Further Reading
Mindset - The New Psychology of Success, Carol S. Dweck
The Four Agreements - A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, Don Miguel Ruiz
The War of Art - Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles, Steven Pressfield