The Truth About “Distractions”

In career and life transitions, what we're really searching for is a feeling of satisfaction. When that satisfaction is missing, we tend to create distractions to fill the gap.

When I was transitioning from the corporate world into coaching, before I even knew coaching was where I'd land, I filled my weekends with travel. A dear friend and confidant finally called it out. He asked, "Why are you creating so many distractions from your career transition?"

At the time, I felt defensive. But eventually I understood: my dissatisfaction with my current career was amplifying my need for satisfaction, and weekend travel was the fastest fix available.

And the truth, as usual, lives somewhere in the middle. I wasn't wrong to find ways to create more satisfaction in the midst of a big life change, and neither are you. I believe we should always look for ways to meet our personal needs, and when we have the power to do that, I say go for it.

But I also think I wasn't doing enough to help clarity find me during those years. I could have created more opportunities to keep seeking, learning, and exploring.

Hindsight is always 20/20. I did eventually get clear on my next chapter, and so will you.

Here's the important question: are you putting time on your calendar to actually work on the change you're seeking?

Are you taking personality assessments? Building relationships and growing your network? Volunteering so you can test out a job or a piece of one? Taking classes? Researching other careers and gathering information? And most importantly, are you giving yourself credit for what you are doing?

It's easy to fixate on the destination and the outcome. But the journey, the small steps along the way, is what keeps the momentum alive.

So yes: find your satisfaction, nurture it, and do your best to balance it with creating space and time to work on your transition. Most importantly, keep going.