Self Image Series Part 2: Professional Self Image

Our professional life has an enormous weight on our self image. Almost any introduction with someone else eventually leads to the question, “what do you do for a living?”; so it is no surprise our self image partly is tied into our professions.

Professional self-identity is like a sliding scale: on one end of the scale is the workaholic and on the opposite, the dispassionate employee. So this begs the question: where should you fall on this scale of professional self-identity?

The truth is, each person’s place on the scale will vary. For example, a person may be very passionate about being a family physician in their local community, while another person may enjoy being an avid rock climber who just so happens to also be an accountant to financially support themselves. Both are healthy examples of professional self-identity.

However, I find that many of new clients find themselves on either end of these extremes - which is what brings them life coaching in the first place - so let’s take a look at what that looks like.

The “Workaholic”

We all know these types of people. These are the type of people who see their profession as their entire world. The thought of losing their job when something goes wrong or their career ends sends them straight into an identity crisis.

The athlete who retires either due to injury or age. The business owner who works 80+ hours a week. The employee that is too afraid to retire. When their career is over, they feel a void in their life. This is understandable, as their self-identity has been uprooted and taken away.

Maybe you resonate with this type of person - and that’s okay. The first step is honestly identifying these traits. And the next is to take proactive steps to build an identity outside of your work. Realize there are other forms of self-identity to pull from, which include your health (see previous blog), personal life, spirituality, and finances (yes, this is separate from your professional identity). Pulling from these other areas can help balance out your professional ego. For example, many people find solace in their social life via hobbies and other activities to help with their self identity, and doing so can help you live a more balanced and fulfilled life.

The Dispassionate Employee

These people may be physically at work, but their heart is not. They have either lost or never had their self-identity tied to their work. While some of them find their self-identity elsewhere, others struggle to find their self-identity at all while going through the motions at their job.

While there is nothing inherently wrong with not self-identifying through your job, it is the issue of having a poor self-identity or no self-identity that brings negativity to people’s lives. We all do not have to be completely passionate about what we do for a living, but we still need to be able to live with ourselves for the job we have. Otherwise, the time spent at a job where we are totally dispassionate may eventually catch up to us in the form of burnout or depression.

If you resonate with this type of person, it’s time to examine your relationship with your career BEFORE it reaches the burnout or depression phase. Why are you dispassionate about what you do? Are there ways that you can create a healthier relationship with your career/job? In some cases, there may be thoughts or ideas that you’d like to be doing something else professionally. If so, what is that? Give yourself permission to explore your thoughts about your current career in the context of your life and happiness. It may be time for a change.

Next Step: Assessing where YOU are on the scale

Unless you are retired or have the financial means to no longer work the rest of your life, your professional self-identity will play a role in who you are and your overall happiness. And it’s important to know that your relationship with your career will change as your life changes and priorities shift. In your younger years, your career may be much more important to you. As you gain a significant other, have kids, become a caregiver for a family member - your priorities will naturally change. Staying in tune with these changes and with your priorities will help you maintain a healthy balance with your professional career, and overall, mental and physical health.

The overall point is - be fluid about your self identity when it comes to your career, and try to maintain a balanced image of yourself.