Understanding who you are and what you have to offer is an important aspect of growing up.
Some of us come to this awareness late, if we have no one help us.
Only trial and error brings this understanding, as we reflect on our experiences, good and difficult.
We can then begin to see patterns in our behaviour.
The thing is, (and employers sometimes forget this) you can’t be what you’re not; and it is exhausting and confusing trying to be.
Trying to fit into a template made for imaginary others is not a happy or creative place. To thrive, we need to be allowed to play to our strengths.
The person who you are offers particular qualities to any organisation or enterprise; and it’s good to know these and ‘sell’ them to your employer.
It’s even more important, however, that you know what you bring…especially in the teeth of rejection.
So while you need to be self-aware enough to know what you cannot be or do, celebrate also what you can do… because what you can do, is brilliant.
This is not an invitation to hunker down moodily and declare to one and all: ‘Take me or leave me – I won’t change!’
We’ll not give up on growing and developing as people: we can all be better versions of ourselves.
But we can’t be a different version of our self, and there will be an inner clash of gears if we try. This can lead to depression and loss of energy…it’s exhausting trying to be someone else.
There are many ways to wear a job; it is not a single fit. If possible, wear yours in a manner that fits you, and enables you to move freely.
Everybody wins.
