The news surrounding the Coronation of King Charles III has been hard to escape this month. But it has inspired me to share my thoughts on how to successfully step into a job you were born to do.
For King Charles, his journey to the throne has been a long one. Taking on a new job at 74 is not something most of us can relate to (or perhaps aspire to do ourselves). However, now that he has become King, the lessons he had to learn while he was waiting for the job, are lessons that perhaps we can all draw from in some way. So, while we aren’t all born to be king, I do believe we are all born with a purpose. And once we realise what that purpose is, following it can lead to the happiness and fulfilment so many of us crave in our career.
Here are some of the lessons I believe we can draw from King Charles’ journey and 5 ways in which you can step into the job you were born to do:
1. Practice patience
It is well known just how long King Charles has had to wait before taking up the throne. Almost an entire lifetime. No doubt there must have been a lot of patience needed to see him through those years of waiting and anticipation.
Of course we aren’t all born with our purpose so clearly defined as King Charles. Many of us have to work out why we are here and what we are meant to do. Taking the time and doing the work to uncover your deepest motivation and how you can integrate that into your career requires patience and trust. But as a result this can put you on a heart-centred path to lasting fulfilment and help you make a difference in the world through your work.
Patience is also key when it comes to making a change in your career. A knee-jerk reaction to dissatisfaction at work could create more problems than solutions. Instead, I recommend taking a measured, practical approach in combination with listening to your intuitive voice when it’s time to act.
(One huge caveat to this is that I don’t however advocate waiting until things are ‘perfectly lined up’ for you. That time may never come!)
2. Belief in a higher wisdom
Believing that a higher wisdom – whether you call that The Universe, The Divine, God, Consciousness, Source, Universal Intelligence, Nature or something else entirely – is there to guide you, will help you make that leap into a new job. Once you have acknowledged the higher wisdom that speaks to you, learning how to recognise that guidance and acting upon it will open you up to true clarity and a deeper sense of purpose.
King Charles has been very open about his faith in God. Only last year he said: “In that faith, and the values it inspires, I have been brought up to cherish a sense of duty to others, and to hold in the greatest respect the precious traditions, freedoms, and responsibilities of our unique history.” Through faith, he found a deeper purpose, which is an inseparable part of his career.
3. Learning the ropes
A journey from one career to another may not be straightforward or quick. So, instead of seeing delays or missteps or even failures, I invite you to re-frame these experiences as ‘learning the ropes’. My own journey from the corporate world to spiritual career coach was not an overnight switch. Each step I took in between these two careers led me closer to my purpose, as well as teaching me the skills I needed to run my own business.
King Charles is also a good example. During his time as Prince of Wales he created The Prince’s Trust, dedicated to improving the lives of disadvantaged young people in the UK. He has also been an active campaigner for the environment for the past five decades. He has stayed committed to the issues that give him purpose while simultaneously learning the ropes of the job that he was destined to take.
4. Accepting yourself and your circumstances
I believe that acceptance is another key ingredient to finding true, lasting happiness. Fighting against events or circumstances in our lives that we cannot change is futile. This wasted energy creates a huge amount of turbulence in the mind and prevents us from seeing the opportunities around us.
Accepting the role he was born to do must have been difficult for King Charles. However, by doing this, he has been able to move forward with purpose, as he explains himself: “I find myself born into this particular position. I’m determined to make the most of it. And to do whatever I can to help. And I hope I leave things behind a little bit better than I found them.”
There may be hurdles to face on your career change journey, but by accepting the circumstances and acknowledging the positive and negative of a situation, you can move forward in a productive way.
5. Choosing the right support team
Surrounding yourself with the right support will make any transition smoother. While only you can step into the role you were born to do, having a supportive network around you will help to foster your own success, happiness and self-realisation. Some can view is as weak to ask for help, but in trying to do it all yourself, you can end up doing nothing. Many people choose to turn to a coach for this reason. A coach can help you recognise your own value, they can hold you accountable, they can help you plan, they neutrally observe your blocks and resistance and the behaviours that are holding you back.
For many years I tried to move my business forward entirely on my own. I now have a great support team around me both within my work and my personal life. I know that I couldn’t do what I do or even plan to get to where I want to get to next without their help.
Thank you for taking the time to read my musings on how to step into a job you were born to do. I hope that my suggestions have resonated with you and given you some food for thought if you’re contemplating your own career change. If, however, this blog has left you asking what is my purpose? What is the job I was born to do? Then I’m here to help. Through my spiritual approach to career coaching, I help you delve deeper into your motivations, find the things that you are good at and that make you happy, so that you can share them with the world through your career. Find out more here.
Hello, I'm Rebecca
Career Coach for people on a spiritual path
I support mid-career professionals who are ready to make a career change, launch into a more purpose-led career or business or simply enjoy a more fulfilling or balanced working life.
I believe that we all have a purpose here on earth and that life is too short to be stressed, unfulfilled and playing small.
