When we’re contemplating a career change, it’s natural to look ahead — to possibilities, to plans, to the version of ourselves we hope to grow into. But sometimes the most meaningful guidance comes from looking in the opposite direction. Backwards. Toward the small, early moments that shaped us long before we had job titles or CVs.
There’s something grounding about returning to those early influences. They remind us of who we were before we learned who we were “supposed” to be.
The Games We Played
Think about the games that absorbed you as a child — the ones you could lose yourself in for hours. Those weren’t just distractions. They were early expressions of how your mind works, what energises you, and how you naturally relate to the world. Maybe you organised the group. Maybe you built things. Perhaps you solved puzzles or lost yourself in your own imaginative universe. These patterns don’t vanish. They simply become quieter as adult life gets louder.
The Characters Who Captivated You
The characters we admired as children often held qualities we longed for — or recognised in ourselves before we had the words for them. Courage. Curiosity. Justice. Creativity. Independence. Whatever it was, those traits mattered to you then, and they probably still matter to you now. Revisiting those early heroes can be a surprisingly honest way of checking in with your values.
The Family Rules We Absorbed
Every family has its own ecosystem of expectations. Some are spoken, many not. They shape how we think about work, ambition, risk, and responsibility. Some of you followed those rules. However, some of you will have pushed against them. Most people did a bit of both. Understanding those early dynamics can help you see which choices have been genuinely yours and which were inherited.
Tracing the Threads
When you look closely, you can often see a thread running through your life. For example, a theme, a pull, or a quiet preference that keeps resurfacing. It might show up in the hobbies you return to, the roles you naturally take on, the subjects that keep catching your attention. Noticing these threads isn’t about nostalgia; it’s about recognising the parts of you that have been consistent all along.
A Story
I once worked with a student who was unsure whether to pursue a Master’s in Criminology. She couldn’t tell whether her decision was rooted in genuine interest or was a way of procrastinating on making a career choice.
As we talked, a pattern emerged: childhood afternoons spent playing Cluedo, shelves of Agatha Christie novels, a lifelong love of mysteries and problem‑solving. Consequently, once she saw that thread, she was able to recognise herself in the choice she’d made.
Returning to Ourselves
When we’re at a crossroads, it can be helpful to pause and look back. Not to cling to the past, but to understand the foundations of who we are. The child you once were still has something to say. They remember what lit you up. They remember what felt natural. They remember what mattered. Listening to them can bring clarity, gentleness, and a sense of alignment to the choices you make now.
My next post will explore how childhood influences impacted my career choices.