如何避免职业生涯陷入停滞？

    新的一年意味着新的开始。但与其他许多人一样，你的职业发展可能正陷入停滞。主动做出改变的前景，往往令人望而却步，尤其是当你正在找工作，希望换一家公司或开始一份新职业的时候。

    在太平时期，你就像是坐着一辆自动驾驶汽车，不需要想太多，只要努力向前即可。你积极乐观，专注于未来。但在糟糕的时期，你突然感觉自己开始原地踏步，更糟糕的是开始倒退。你很快便陷入各种负面的想法之中，失去了方向和对未来的希望。这种情绪会影响你的态度和介绍自己的方式，而雇主希望聘用的是积极乐观、能够以良好的态度完成每天工作的人。

    要走出职业和生活发展的僵局，你必须从不同的角度来思考下面三种观念：

    去想好的一面。专注于生活中积极的一面。在开始之前，创建一个自己的生活轨迹图，用形象的方式展示出你之前的经历和未来的目标。在一张纸上画出你在20岁、30岁、40岁和之后的职业与生活中的里程碑事件。回忆你在以往的工作和生活中取得的成就。获得成功的时候，你在做什么，在与谁共事，是如何做到的？你在什么时候最享受生活？你在什么时候对其他人产生过积极影响？你在什么时候感觉最有成就感？

    这将为你提供一个形象的职业发展历程图，并让你专注于好的一面。从总体来看，这些经历便是一部引人入胜的人生故事，向人们讲述你的成就和你为公司带来的价值。那么，对于未来你有什么其他要求？对新的一年，你有什么期望？你或许想迎接新的挑战，改善工作环境，肩负更多的责任或者学习一项新技能。

    有了这张轨迹图，从今天开始，你会时刻想着用积极的心态谈论自己、现任和前任雇主以及你对未来的期望。这种新习惯是对人生和职业生涯的一种肯定。

    活在当下。专注于现在，想想你能如何对现在产生影响。今天才是最重要的。利用这个绝佳的机会来实现某些目标。你今天采取的行动越多，实现目标的机会就越大。

    确定今天可以迈出的一小步，有助于你获得实现预期结果的前进动力。为了遵守这个承诺，你可以将它写下来，放在一个显著的位置。这样做可以让它变得真实，并增加实现承诺的可能性。这一步完成之后，再确定下一步，并按照这种方式继续下去。完成一系列小的承诺，滴水穿石，你的目标终将实现。

    放下包袱。放弃让你疲惫不堪的负担和抱负。情感能量是一种宝贵的资产。为了给正面情绪提供空间，你需要抛弃坏的情绪。这需要你原谅其他人和你自己，包括之前雇主的所有错误。你希望当初能够以另一种方式完成的事情，或许能拉出一份长长的清单。

    但事实上，过去的已经过去。虽然过往的经历对你今天的处境有着一定的影响，但它并不能代表未来，尤其是当你承诺要做出改变的时候。

    倾听内心“积极的”声音。你内心里存在着两种声音：积极的和消极的。后者会让人怀疑，让你分心，无法履行自己的承诺。而积极的声音则会让你专注于自己实现未来成功的潜力和希望。你的内心会慢慢出现质疑的声音，这是必然的。这时候，你需要做的就是忽视它们，用能够提升精神状态的事情取而代之。比如你在人生轨迹图上标注的过往的成功，或能够让你微笑的某个人或某件事。

    重新确定自己的方向不应该是一个人的任务，要寻求帮助。让自己周围聚集着积极乐观、有良好心态和愿意提供帮助的人。主动寻求帮助可能并不容易，你需要做的就是走出去，走近他人，给他们帮助你的机会。（财富中文网）

    本文作者彼得•C•迪亚蒙德著有《扩展你的职业与生活：评价、评估和向前发展的四个步骤》（Amplify Your Career and Life: 4 Steps to Evaluate, Assess and Move Forward）一书。

    译者：刘进龙/汪皓

    审校：任文科

    The beginning of a new year brings the promise of a fresh start. However, like many others, you may struggle with a stalled career or lack of personal and professional growth. The prospect of initiating change is daunting. This is particularly true if you’re looking for a job, wanting to change companies or start a new career.

    When times are good, you are charging forward on autopilot without much thought. You are positive and focused on the future. When times are bad, you suddenly feel as though you are stuck in neutral, or worse yet, on reverse. You quickly become mired in negative thoughts and lose perspective and hope about the future. This can easily show up in your attitude and how you present yourself. People want to hire and be around people who are positive and will bring a good attitude to work everyday.

    Finding your way out of career and life gridlock requires you to think differently by following three concepts:

    Think good thoughts. Focus on the positive and the good in your life. To help you get started, visualize where you have been and where you are heading by creating a diagram of your Life Arc. On a piece of paper, plot your career and life milestones from your twenties, thirties, forties, and beyond. Reflect on past work and life experiences where you’ve been fulfilled and successful. What were you doing, with whom and how were you being to create that success? When were you enjoying life the most? When were you having a positive impact on others? When were you feeling the most fulfilled?

    This provides a visual snapshot of your career progression focused on the good. Viewed in its entirety, these experiences create a compelling story for you to tell about your accomplishment and the value you bring to an organization. Now, what do you want more of in the future? What’s your desired outcome for the new year? This could be a new challenge, improved work environment, more responsibility or learning a new skill.

    With this in hand, starting today, you always want to talk positively about yourself, current and past employers and what you want in the future. This new habit is life and career affirming.

    Be present. Concentrate on the here and now and what you can impact in the present. Today is the only day that matters. Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to accomplish something. The more action you take today the greater chance for results.

    Identify one small step that you can take today that creates forward momentum toward your desired outcome. To lock in this commitment, write it down and keep it in a visible location. This will make it real and increase the likelihood of making it happen. Once completed, identify another step and follow this pattern. Completing a series of small commitments is manageable and will add up over time.

    Let go of grudges. Let go of burdens and baggage weighing you down. Emotional energy is a precious commodity. In order to make room for the good, you’ll need to let go of the bad. That may require you to forgive others as well as yourself. This should include any wrongs from previous employers. You may have a long list of what you would have done differently.

    But the truth is, the past is just that: the past. While it played a role in where you are today, it is not an indicator of the future, especially if you have a commitment to change.

    Listen to your “good” inner voice. You have a good inner voice along with the not-so-good one. The latter will cast doubt and distract you from acting on your commitments. The good one focuses on your potential and prospects for achieving future success. When doubts creep into your mind, as they are bound to do, simply let them pass through and replace them with something that lifts your spirits. This could be a past success as noted on your life arc or someone or something thing that brings a smile to your face.

    Resetting your GPS shouldn’t be a solo mission, enlist help. Surround yourself with people who are positive, have a good attitude and want to help. While it may not be easy for you to ask for support, all you have to do is put yourself out there and allow others to assist you.

    Peter C. Diamond is the author of Amplify Your Career and Life: 4 Steps to Evaluate, Assess and Move Forward.