How To Find Career Clarity As A Highly Sensitive Person
Here's the struggle HSPs face: Conventional work environments are built on the ability to ignore much of the information we receive in the name of productivity. For the average person, this is a doable task. They can block out the coworker talking loudly on the phone, the fluorescent lights, and the boss's weird vibe in the meeting earlier. But for those of us who are sensitive, we notice everything and we absorb it all. This includes the feelings and energies of the people around us. HSPs are like psychic sponges and this can be both a gift and a curse, depending on the environment you're in and the tools you have in your toolbox.
This is why HSPs often struggle in conventional jobs; it feels like sensory overload. And while it might be easy to recognize that something isn't working, it's harder to know what to do about it. Many sensitive people find themselves hopping from job to job, or pendulum swinging from one idea to the next, until they reach a breaking point (this is where most of my clients end up on a consultation call with me).
Here is what I say on most of those calls:
The clarity you're seeking is already within you. I know that sounds cliche, but it is true. I work with people across all industries, from law, to education, to business consulting, to therapy, to architecture and more. The common thread is that the answer to the question of "what's next for me?" is, on a deeper level, the answer to the question "what truly matters to me?"
When you understand what truly matters to you, the next question is what's stopping you from doing that? Sometimes we need more knowledge or skills. Often times we need to tweak our belief system. Most of the time it's a combination of both.
Unconventional people need unconventional careers. Trying to fit your dodecahedron shape into a square hole is always going to feel like a slog. That's actually good news, once you learn to harness your uniqueness.
When going through a deep and meaningful transition, there is always a void. It is hard, and it is also where most people turn back to what is familiar. The more you can lean into the unknown, the clearer your path will become. (With the caveat that meeting your basic needs is essential and Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is real).
Turning inward before turning outward is key. We are wired to think that clarity comes from mentally-muscling our way into the perfect role or title or industry. If we can just figure out the next step everything else will make sense. In truth, clarity comes from quieting the noise of your mind and tuning in to your internal guidance system.
Your career path can feel like one of two things: Going with the flow of the river and cooperating with what wants to happen, or swimming up stream and trying to force something that doesn't. (Again, with the caveat of meeting basic needs being essential to this process).
It may not turn out how you think it will. And that is ok. There are opportunities available to you that your mind cannot comprehend right now. You may set out towards one thing and discover that something else unfolds. The best way to set yourself up for these is to hold everything lightly, and remain curious and open. It is also to follow your internal guidance, even when it doesn't make total, logical sense.
Your career path can be a great source of growth and healing when you allow it to be. That process will require you to release the death grip on the conventional definition of success and be creative while re-writing your own.
Personally, I have discovered that success to me means freedom. It means being able to live in different countries while still expanding and growing in my work. It also means doing work that feels more like a calling than a career. As I write this I'm in the Irish countryside in a camper van. My dog is sleeping at my feet. I work with clients every day to help them see and know themselves more clearly. I'm working on my masters in integrative psychotherapy. Yesterday, I started my day with a hike in the mountains and ended it with a swim in the lake. I don't own many belongings and the less I own, the more free I feel. I don't have stability in the traditional sense and I don't miss it. My nervous system is balanced, and I feel incredibly lucky to spend my time the way I do. And, to get here, I had to let go of a lot of what I thought success meant, and many layers of false identity that I wore as armor for years.
The question for you is, what does success mean to you, if you were going to be radically honest with yourself about it?
Here's a glimpse of mine right now:
P.S. I offer a 2-hour career clarity deep-dive intensive that is perfect for anyone seeking insight on your next steps. If is $333 right now but the price will be going up at the end of the summer. So if you're seeking support in getting deep clarity, especially if you're a highly sensitive person, you can learn more and book a session here. Message me if you have questions or would like to chat before booking.