Brilliant NEXT

(This post is part of the “LifeWork Renewal 101″ Series. The series introduction is HERE.)

“The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” ~Joseph Campbell

“You will be.” ~Yoda

You’re a confident person.

And you’ve tended to excel at most things you’ve applied yourself to. So it’s confidence you’ve earned.

Then why is this career limbo so hard? You think maybe its just a matter of keeping at it. Toughng it out. Besides you’re smart. Very smart. So you’ll figure it out.

But so far nothing.

Some ideas perhaps. But they just aren’t clear enough and don’t grab you enough to act on yet.

It may be that the skills required for this passage aren’t the same strengths that brought you success in the past. In fact, odd as this may sound, I suggest that your current transition is inviting you to step outside your confidence. Outside your comfort zone.

Because, in my experience, that’s the only place “What you want NEXT” will be found.

The Renewal Zone

Deep renewal is different from rest.

Beyond a stepping back to regain perspective and energy, a major renewal period actually leads us more fully into our talents and purpose. More fully into ourselves.

So the renewed vitality that we discover is found in our own depths.

In myth, the “Hero’s Journey” always begins with the hero-to-be leaving the known world and venturing into wilderness. Similarly, deep renewal always involves an interior journey beyond what we’ve done and been up to this point.

“The usual person is more than content, he is even proud, to remain within the indicated bounds, and popular belief gives him every reason to fear so much as the first step into the unexplored. The adventure is always and everywhere a passage beyond the veil of the known into the unknown; the powers that watch at the boundary are dangerous; to deal with them is risky; yet for anyone with competence and courage the danger fades.”

~ Joseph Campbell

To find new lifework “fire” we have to enter new territory.

And in my experience that always involves going outside of our comfort zone. Un-comfortable by definition. And scary by nature. Especially to our practical mind.

Our practical mind craves clear and known points of reference. Safety. And leaving our comfort zone is essentially stepping outside the arena of our practical mind. Out of control. So while transition may be the necessary path to find a new dream and renewed vitality for your NEXT work and life – that doesn’t mean you have to like it.

3 Faces of Fear – Steps on the Hero’s Journey

The personal growth opportunities that lifework transitions bring are unique to each of us. Yet they all wear the face of fear.

I’m noticed three central areas of  fear in the successful renewal journeys of the smart and confident people I coach. Each area of fear is tied to a normal step in the renewal process. And each, while distinctly uncomfortable, is ultimately a source of growth.

These three natural steps, and fears, each correspond to one of the three stages of the classic Hero’s Journey. The stages of that mythic journey are: “Departure,” “Initiation,” and “Return.”

Each heroic stage steps into and meets a different face of fear: [Read more...]