Always remember, you are more
I work in a profession that is often defining, law enforcement. However, it is not the only one.
Many people define themselves by their career, frequently losing themselves in their professional title — doctor, lawyer, firefighter, soldier. For some, they bask in the “glory” of their vocation and their professional title, eventually becoming stuck, unable to move on, or unable to consider being someone else. Therefore, struggling mightily when their career comes to an end. This end may be due to retirement, or may occur earlier because you have evolved and your profession no longer fits who you are becoming.
Olympic athletes are also notorious for struggling with this phenomenon.
When you have dedicated so much time and effort into a singular focus, when you invest so much of your being into a single fragment of your whole self, it can be challenging to make needed transitions. If you genuinely believe you are living your calling and purpose, it can be hard to imagine that calling and purpose can change over time. But it can, and it does for many of us. Then what?
Always remember, you are more!
Begin by examining the various dimensions within your chosen profession and identify areas where you can become a subject-matter expert. For example, in addition to law enforcement, I decided to move into the emergency management arena. I sought out training and mentors and eventually became credentialed as a Certified Emergency Manager by the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM). While exploring this avenue, I took the opportunity to attend two of IAEM’s conferences, and I found a second family comprised of intelligent, energetic, supportive, and fun members.
I enjoyed presenting emergency management training, which made me think about teaching more broadly, so I spoke to a friend who serves as an adjunct instructor at a University. That conversation led to an opportunity for me to deliver his class when he had scheduling conflicts and ultimately landing me an adjunct faculty position, co-teaching with my friend for a couple of semesters. This fall, I have been selected to teach my own course. Look at that, me, a teacher, for real!
Then, one day I needed more business cards. As I went to order them, it hit me, “I am more!”
· I am still a law enforcement professional and proud of it.
· I am a certified emergency manager and proud of that too.
· I am also adjunct faculty at a university, in which I take immense joy.
So, which title do I put on my business cards? The answer I landed on was all three, along with my personal contact information. Because these are things that I am now, not just what my job is in one dimension. I use these cards to network, connect with others, and see what else I can become. Opportunities are endless.
I have many colleagues who, like myself, are close to being eligible to retire. Some are way past eligibility but hanging on to the job. Some have chosen to continue working because they love it (great, keep going!), others staying because they feel stuck, not believing they can do anything else. Even in retirement, many confine themselves to seeking jobs in narrowly-defined fields because they don’t think they can do anything else. To them I would like to say, always remember, you are more! You have decades of knowledge, skills, and experience to offer. You just need to figure out what else there is and have the courage to explore those opportunities.
If what you are doing energizes you each day and imbues you with a sense of passion, great! Stick with it. But if you feel frustration and dread when you look at your life and think of your identity and how it is linked to a profession, maybe it is time to break that chain and look at reinventing yourself.
I am not suggesting you suddenly quit your job. But perhaps, it is the perfect time to explore other interests. Start by asking, “What other areas of my life can I invest in?” As you do this, you may re-ignite your passion for the career you chose, or this journey of self-discovery may lead you down a path where you can add another facet to an already successful career. Or you might surprise yourself and take the path less traveled and make a career change to something substantially different.
No matter what, at some point, the music stops, the merry-go-round ride ends, and you need to go find another ride. Isn’t it better to already have a sense of what you want to do next?
