The Career School

You did everything right. Built the career. Took the promotions. Took on more responsibility. Collected achievements. Followed the "right" path.

And then, one quiet morning, it hit you: “What am I actually doing with my life?”

Sometimes that question roars - some call it a midlife crisis. Other times, it hums quietly in the background, a persistent discomfort underneath the surface of your seemingly successful life - everything looks fine, yet something feels utterly wrong.

Or maybe you’re on the other side: stuck. Not moving. Postponing decisions, waiting for courage to arrive.

Because… what if it all goes wrong? What if I fail? What if I shouldn’t?

It’s not laziness. It’s not even fear.

It’s the invisible scripts we’ve absorbed in childhood. Through how we were praised (or not), how our parents lived, how money and success were spoken about at home.

We internalise them. And one day, we confuse them for our own voice.

"You can't leave a stable job"

"Art is a hobby, not a profession"

"To deserve success, you need to suffer"

"You're not the person who can easily..."

"That's not for people like us"

"Some people get lucky. That won't be you"

"You want too much"

Scripts differ - but the essence is the same: these scripts built your operating system, your mindset. And this mindset determines EVERYTHING - your choice of profession, your attitude towards yourself, the feeling of "I can" or "I can't".

It's as if life was split in two: the external level - where everything looks fine, even "successful". And the internal level - where you're living in someone else's coordinate system. This isn't about not knowing what you want. It's about not realising you've been following a map that was never yours. You say, “I chose this.” But deep down it means “I thought there was no other way.”

The good news? These scripts can be overwritten. Not overnight. But absolutely, definitively possible.

Your Homework (Yes, Really)

Grab a piece of paper. Or write in the comments below.

STEP 1: Finish the sentence

a) "I cannot change my job because..." Write it out. As many endings as come to mind. Don’t censor, don’t analyse - just let them pour out.

b) Or, if you’re already in the middle of change (decided to change your job, resigned, became a freelancer, applied for a new role) and anxiety and doubt are eating you alive: "I'm afraid that..." Write that all out. No filters, no judgement.

For example:

I'm afraid I won't cope.

I'm afraid it's a mistake.

I'm afraid everyone will see I'm a fraud.

I'm afraid no one will support me.

I'm afraid I'll make a fool of myself.

I'm afraid I'll run out of money.

I'm afraid I'm not talented enough.

STEP 2: Add "So what?"

To every single sentence. Then answer it. Honestly. Then ask again: "So what?"

For example:

I'm afraid I won't cope as a freelancer.

So what?

I'll feel ashamed. I'll have to go back to working for someone.

So what?

Well... it's not the end of the world, but won't people laugh at me?

And if they do—so what?

...

Keep going until you reach the bottom of each fear. Until there's nothing left to unpack.

Try it - and tell me what you discovered. Which internal voice spoke the loudest? And which one finally went quiet?

Good luck! You've got this.