Here’s the antidote to your work life doldrums

I want to share 3 questions today that have the potential to change the course of your career.

To get the most from these questions, carve out some uninterrupted time with pen, paper and a comfortable seat. As you’ll see, the questions are challenging and confronting. They’ve come from Professors at The University of Stanford and they’ve named it ‘The Odyssey Plan’.

The intention of the Odyssey plan is to expand your thinking, to zoom out on your life and to think in new and novel ways about what you want.

Here they are:

Question 1: What will your life look like if you stay on your current path?

Imagine that nothing changes for the next 5-10 years. Same job, same relationships, same routine.

How does that feel? Where is that going to lead you?

Sometimes we know we have to tolerate a less-than-ideal work situation in the short term in order to get where we want to be in the long term. If that’s you, you might feel satisfied that in 5-10 years anything you’re tolerating now will be worth it.

If not, this question will highlight the areas of your current path that aren’t fulfilling you and can act as a dig in the rubs to make the changes that are within your control.

Warning: this question can feel very confronting. If it does,  take comfort in the fact that it’s giving you really useful information about where you are right now and what needs changing.

Question 2: If the path you’re on at the moment disappeared tomorrow, what would you do?

What job would you do? Would you set up a business? What hobbies or voluntary opportunities might you explore? Who would you spend your time with? What if you moved to a new place?

This is all about expansive thinking. Nobody is saying you should quit your job tomorrow or burn everything to the ground. This is a thought experiment to plan some new seeds.

Question 3: What would life be like if nothing was holding you back?

This is the time to imagine a future with no constraints. For a few moments imagine money doesn’t matter. Other people’s opinions don’t matter. Suspend ideas of what’s realistic or practical. Of course there will be a time to come back to the practical details, but that time isn’t now.

Give yourself permission to dream about what you’d love to create. What would be possible? Paint a picture with as much detail as possible.

This exercise reminds us of our ability to live our lives more intentionally. You have choices about the habits you create, how you spend your time and where you direct your energy

It gets us out of default, black and white thinking and sparks new ideas and possibilities.

Get in touch

If this exercise has inspired you to make changes but you fear getting in your own way, you’re welcome to book in for my free call where we can look at what’s holding you back so you can move forward with clarity.