What is Your ‘Why’?

If you’ve been thinking about re-starting your career or re-entering the workforce for a while, but it hasn’t quite worked out the way you had hoped yet, it’s likely that you’ve faced a few challenges along the way. Some of them might have been within your control, but some of them will have been external too. We know better than anyone the way military life can throw you for a loop sometimes. Or heck, just life in general!

When we think about growth, we like the idea of it because it sounds new and exciting, but growth can be uncomfortable, it involves stretching beyond your comfort zone for a while, feeling out of your depth, finding yourself in a space where you might not know everything or have all the answers. Often, we don’t realise a plant has outgrown its pot until it’s getting rather cramped and uncomfortable, and the same can be said for people too! Growth often triggers hidden fears and insecurities that have been buried deep, feelings of not being enough, not knowing enough, with thoughts of “who am I to do this?” and our age-old friend imposter syndrome knocking at the door.

Combine the discomfort of growth with all the challenges modern life throws our way – family dramas, health issues, children, deployments, boiler breakdowns and house moves – it’s easy to understand how our dreams and long-term goals fall by the wayside in favour of just, well, surviving another day!

It’s easy to understand, and with that understanding, acknowledge that we can’t be and do it all. It is hard, and you’re not a failure if getting by day to day has been your biggest priority up until now.

And yet, amongst the challenge and the insecurity, we keep being called to find more for ourselves.

Which is why it’s so important to know what your ‘why’ is.

What is your reason for wanting more for yourself, your life and family?

Why do you do the things you do? What makes up the deep motivation that fuels your life, that gets you out of bed in the morning?

Why are you reading this article?

What pushes you to want to find a new career, re-establish an old one, start a new business or otherwise re-enter the workforce?

What makes up that spark inside of you that refuses to go out, even when you’re knocked back?

If these questions have you drawing a blank initially, or all you can think of is ‘more cash’, here are some more reasons you could consider when trying to identify what makes up your ‘why’.

What will change about your life if you are successful in your dream/goal?

How will any money you earn impact your life if your career flourishes?

What will change for you, personally, when you achieve your career goals?

How will this goal help you to make a difference, or have an impact on the world?

Developing an understanding of your ‘why’ will help you find further clarity, deepen your conviction and discover your personal sense of purpose in life.

It will help to motivate you and push you forward in those moments when you feel disheartened or consider giving up on your goals.

When I first applied for my job with Recruit For Spouses, my ‘why’ was simply to take away the burden of sole financial responsibility from my partner, who was the main earner of our household and had been for a while; a situation I know a lot of military spouses will be familiar with.

I also wanted to have more money to help us continue the renovation of our home, which was at the time of applying for the role in its third year of work; work which had been mostly done by us due to a lack of spare funds and so was taking up a huge amount of time.

Since taking on the role, my ‘why’ has expanded to become more about helping military spouses and the military community re-enter the workforce and, more broadly, reclaim the sense of independence, self-sufficiency, identity and freedom that comes when we find work where we can be of service and feel truly valued.

The Career Academy is here to offer a helping hand to all military spouses, free of charge, regardless of where they are in their life, how long they’ve been out of work for, or what their unique hopes and dreams are. Our award-winning mentors and talented coaches have decades of experience and expertise, and they are here to help you take the next steps back into a career that feels fulfilling to you.

There is still space for a few more applicants for an October start, so take this as your sign and grab the opportunity to start moving towards your career goals again.

We know sometimes life throws you a curve ball.

The Career Academy coaches aren’t here to judge.

Everyone needs a helping hand, and to be guided by someone who is further along on the path then they are, especially when they are growing!