Today I wanted to talk about something foundational to having the career or life you want. And that is your self-image.

You’ve heard me say it many times on this podcast, but it’s impossible to say it too often because it’s just not something we hear about much. And yet it’s so incredibly important. So, I’ll say it again.

Everything that you want in your career, your business OR your life starts on the inside. 

Today we’re going to dive deeper into what that means because it is critically important when it comes to creating the life you want. And once you understand the concept of self-image *and* learn how to create a positive one, your career and really every other part of your life as well, is going to change for the better. 

I know that self-image isn’t usually what comes up when we talk about career. Most of us are taught to pay more attention to influencing what *others* think about us – our boss, our colleagues, our partner, our customers. And of course, it is important. 

But there’s something even more important that needs to come *first*. And that is, what we think about ourselves.

Here’s why. 

We can only create a career or life to the edge of our self-image. To the edge of what we believe is possible for ourselves. 

That’s why we sometimes say we really want one thing but then we do the opposite. So, we may say we want to lose 20 pounds but instead of staying on our health eating protocol, we binge on chips or cookies when we’re stressed. 

That’s where the behaviors we have that confound us come from. And it’s where those feelings of self-doubt or worry or fear come from as well.  

So, we must believe in our ability to have, do, and be the things we want BEFORE we can actually have, do, and be them. 

Here’s how it works in practical terms.

If we don’t believe we can get the promotion, we won’t. 

If we don’t think we can be successful in that new career path, we won’t.

If we don’t believe we can have that level of income or savings, we won’t. 

If we don’t believe we can have good relationships, we won’t.

If we don’t believe we’ll be successful in the new business, we won’t.

Or let’s to take it to your health, if you don’t believe you can lose the weight, you won’t.

And it’s important to say also that this isn’t spiritual woo woo. This is about cold, hard practicality. This is about as real as it gets. After all, I’m a Midwest girl through and through so practicality is my thing. And this inside out approach is just the way the universe works.

Once you know this, it explains so many things that never seemed to go our way, but we could never figure out why. Because the truth is if we don’t believe in our ability to have, do or be something FIRST, we will either not make it happen or if we do, we won’t be able to hang onto it. It’s that simple.

So inside is where it all starts. 

And once you do that inner work and create a strong self-image, *then* you’re ready to focus on all the external factors that are also important. You know…the ones we talk about most when it comes to career, like learning new skills or improving relationships or taking risks or networking or mastering public speaking or whatever it is for you. They’re all important. But they are all secondary to how you see yourself and your possibilities.  

This is going to be a super interesting episode that can help you in literally every area of your life.

For more

Do you have a question you'd like to have addressed on the podcast? Want to give us some feedback or suggestions? Click here to send us a text.

Follow us on Instagram @thepurposefulcareer.
Learn more about Next Level, our monthly membership at https://www.thepurposefulcareer.com/nextlevel.