When we’re jumping into something new, it's normal and even at times expected to be excited. That’s a good thing! Take note, however, that there are two types of excitement associated with a new or bigger career opportunity. Dr. John Demartini does a great job at describing these, and I’ll try my best to summarize this for you.
First, there’s the type of excitement that’s associated with the desire to tell people about the ”big” deal or opportunity in your career. Here, your ‘rose-coloured-view’ often takes over the realities of the job itself. With this type of excitement, there’s a pretty big element of realism that’s lacking; you end up minimizing the accountabilities, responsibilities, challenges, and underestimating the effect that it has on your life, time, and relationships. If you assume there are way more exciting benefits than challenges and drawbacks, you are blindly infatuated with the opportunity. Your imbalanced perspective is a sign that you are not ready to handle the challenges that get thrown your way (which are guaranteed to come, by the way).
It’s kind of like dating someone new without acknowledging that the person has two sides to them. In the beginning, maybe you’re only focusing on one side - how attractive they are, how much they make you laugh, how sweet and charming they can be. You’re not necessarily acknowledging that there’s another side to them (like the fact that they get really hangry, are always late to things and have terrible road rage). Every person has two sides, just like every opportunity and situation has two sides: the benefits and drawbacks. You just have to look for them.
On the other hand, if the new opportunity you’re jumping into is fully in line with what you value, you’re balanced with your perceptions and don’t have lopsided expectations about what may present itself before you in terms of challenges and adversity, you’ve got a way better shot. When you’re looking at the opportunity like a career advancement or a new challenge instead of your “big break”, you’re more prepared for it.
It’s about being grounded and grateful for the opportunity, challenges and responsibilities that come with any new event in your career. Anything you have a balanced perspective on you will manage wisely.
As always, thanks for reading.
With love,
Natalie