Career Development Is A Life-Long Endeavor

“I’ve developed a new philosophy… I only dread one day at a time.”
– Charlie Brown

When I was a kid, I loved watching all the Peanuts specials on TV. The characters were so awesome. Snoopy, who entertained himself in his boredom with a wild imagination. Linus, who was brilliant but full of insecurities. Sally with her naturally curly hair and over-abundance of vanity about it. Schroeder’s intensity and single-minded determination about playing the piano. Lucy, the bossy, busy-body, know-it-all nag. And poor Charlie Brown. He tried and tried but seemed doomed to eternal failure.

Though it didn’t always seem like it, Charlie Brown’s greatest strength was is persistent optimism and his willingness to keep trying. Sure, he’d indulge in frequent pity parties, but he always seemed to pull out of them in the end, especially when his faithful friend, Linus, gave him a boost. To me, “never give up” seems to be one of the main messages Peanuts’ creator, Charles Schultz, wished to portray through his characters’ interplay.

If you are a fan of the Peanuts like I was, you will remember how Charlie Brown repeatedly tried to kick the football that Lucy held for him. She always pulled it away, and he always landed on his rump. Over and over. Lucy never gave him quarter.

___________________________________________________

click image to enlarge
 ___________________________________________________

But he kept at it and kept at it. Whether you’re simply trying to find a good job or you’re trying to find your mission in life, the lesson Charlie Brown teaches us is to never give up. Career development is a life-long endeavor. Once you find that good job or figure out your mission in life, you should always look ahead to what needs to happen next for you. Life is constantly in motion, and change is inevitable. Imagine Lucy representing the concept of the challenge of change and Charlie Brown asks how long before he can trust that the ball will be still and not be pulled from under him. In other words, how long does he have to wait before life gives him no more surprises? And she answers, “How long? All your life, Charlie Brown… All your life.”

Okay, so we get it that the stress of life changing is ongoing. Does this mean that you need to give up on trying to deal with it? Throw your hands up the in air and “dread each day” like Charlie Brown? Remember… Charlie Brown kept going back to the ball. That’s the true lesson here. And there are simple techniques you can use to manage the inevitable stress of life and the incredible stress of an ongoing job search.

©2010

___________________________________________________

Angela Loëb helps people rediscover and use their gifts so they can bring who they are to what they do. To learn more, please visit:  https://insyncresources.com
___________________________________________________