Have you ever found yourself in a situation that made you realise something new about yourself? Have you ever looked back at a season of your life and realised it changed the way you see your career, your relationships or what really matters to you?

Over the years, I've had a number of experiences that have challenged me, stretched me and helped me understand myself on a deeper level. From moving to New York on my own, to going on a legal mission trip, becoming a parent and building a business, each experience has taught me something different about who I am and what matters to me.

In this episode, I share four experiences that have helped to build my self-awareness and why I believe knowing yourself is so important when it comes to making career and life decisions.

What you will learn:

• How living abroad can help you discover who you really are

Moving to New York for a year-long internship was the first time I had ever lived away from home, and I was suddenly surrounded by new people, new experiences and completely different ways of doing things. Being in an environment where nobody knew me gave me the freedom to make my own decisions and think about how I actually wanted to spend my time. I share how that experience helped me understand my personality, my non-negotiables, the things I enjoy and the things I definitely don't.

• How one mission trip changed the way I viewed my career

A two-week legal mission trip to Kenya and Rwanda gave me the opportunity to see the impact of my work in a completely different way. Being able to help people understand their rights and seeing the tangible difference that could make helped me realise something important about myself: the work I do needs to be connected to impact in order for it to feel truly fulfilling.

• Why parenting can be one of the biggest mirrors for self-awareness

There is something about parenting that makes you see parts of yourself that you might otherwise overlook. I share how watching my children has helped me recognise my own persistence, determination, impatience and the areas where I still have work to do. Parenting has reminded me that while I can't control other people, I can choose how I respond.

• Why building a business can teach you so much about yourself

Building a business has stretched me in ways I never expected. It has tested my patience, consistency, discipline and ability to deal with rejection and delayed gratification. I share how the challenges and opportunities that come with being a business owner have helped me understand how I navigate different seasons, deal with curve balls and find creative solutions.

Ready to get to know yourself better?

There is so much noise, information and opinion coming at us every day. If you don't have a strong understanding of your own values, beliefs, motivations, interests and skills, it can be easy to get pulled in different directions by what other people think you should be doing.

The more you understand yourself, the easier it becomes to make decisions from a place of conviction and know what you will and won't tolerate.

So take some time to think about the experiences you've been through and what they've taught you about yourself. Self-awareness is a journey, but getting to know yourself more deeply can change the way you approach your career and your life.

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Connect with me

Website: www.careerchangemakers.com
Email: podcast@careerchangemakers.com

LinkedIn: Janine Esbrand

Instagram: @careerchangemakerspodcast

Career Change Makers on Apple Podcasts

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