The great philosophers said it long ago. Know thyself. It is so basic and so obvious, why do we fight self-assessment? Because it is difficult.
Life moves so quickly today, running around doing something, texting, emailing, cell phones, IM, chat, meetings, work, errands. Where do you fit in self-exploration?
I have a friend who goes on an annual personal retreat. During this time, he focuses on himself. He re-evaluates what is important in his life personally and professionally. Out of this experience comes clarity and energy. He is able to set priorities that address what is important to him then.
We should all take a personal retreat. It may just be a weekend cooped up in the bedroom in your house, or a night each week spent alone without family interruptions.
To make this experience worthwhile, you will want to have some good questions to ponder as well as know what the outcome of this retreat will be, goals need to be set.
Here are some questions I put in journals I gave to friends for their 40th birthdays:
- What are you most proud of accomplishing in your life?
- Who has had the greatest impact on your life and why?
- What has been your greatest learning experience?
- What is the greatest innovation you have seen in your life and why?
- What is the most memorable event?
By the way, journaling is another wonderful way of getting in touch with your self.
Job seekers waste a lot of time going through the motions of searching and applying for jobs they are not interested in or not qualified for because they haven’t taken the time to assess themselves.
My hope is that you will take the time and truly understand what is important to you in this next phase of your life. You deserve to be happy.
Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.