As adults contemplating career change, we often look forward for guidance. Yet sometimes, the most profound insights come from looking back—back to the playground, books, and the family dinner table. Let’s explore how your early childhood influences can be harnessed to shape the career choices and changes you make.
The Games We Played
Remember the games you enjoyed playing as a child? Whether you were building sandcastles, leading expeditions in the playground, or solving mysteries with friends, these games were more than just play. They were the first expressions of your innate talents and interests.
Ask yourself:
- What role did you gravitate towards in these games?
- Did you perceive yourself as a leader, a thinker, a creator?
- Were you more comfortable playing alone, crafting intricate worlds in your mind, or did you thrive in the company of others, planning adventures?
Your early preferences can point towards a career that resonates with your core motivations.
Characters who inspired you
The heroes and heroines of your youth—whether through books, films, TV or role models in your life often embody the traits you aspire to.
Reflect on:
- The characters you admired and what you liked about them.
- The values and characteristics they represented.
- How these traits align with the person you’ve become and the career you desire.
- Embracing the qualities of your childhood idols can guide you to careers which align with your values and motivations.
Family ‘Rules’ and Their Impact
Family dynamics play a subtle yet significant role in career choice. The spoken and unspoken ‘rules’ within families can either set you on a predefined path or spark a rebellion that leads you in a completely different direction.
Consider:
- The explicit and implicit ‘rules’ you grew up with.
- How you’ve either conformed to or challenged these rules in your life and career.
- The ways in which these family dynamics have shaped your professional journey.
Understanding the influence of your family’s expectations can empower you to make career choices that are uniquely yours.
Tracing the Threads of Influence
Our lives are tapestries woven from countless threads of experience. Some of these threads can be traced back to the earliest days of our lives, influencing our decisions in ways we might not even realise.
Explore:
- The evidence of early influence in your past decisions.
- The likelihood of these influences shaping your future choices.
- How you can harness these insights to steer your career in a direction that brings satisfaction and success.
An example
A student was weighing up her decision to study for a Masters in Criminology. The course was close to her family home. Her dilemma: was this a decision based on cost and pragmatism or was it the right choice for her? She wasn’t 100% sure of her motivations in applying for the course. It transpired in discussion that her childhood interests were almost all connected to solving problems and whodunnits. She’d enjoyed Cluedo, read Agatha Christie books, moving on to crime writers and murder mysteries. Her preferred films and TV programmes followed a similar pattern. When she was able to recognise this pattern of sustained interest, she felt confident and validated in the choice she’d made.
By recognising the patterns of your past, you can make informed decisions that align with your true self and which lead to fulfilling careers.
In conclusion, the games you played, the characters you admired, and the family rules you lived by all leave their mark on you. By reflecting on the influences of your childhood, you can gain clarity on the things that matter most to you. Embrace that child, listen to their stories, and let them guide you towards careers that will nurture and fulfil you.
It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are. E.E. Cummings
See these related posts on IKIGAI and Strengths.
