The 5 Great Myths of Career Change - Myth 3

Myth 3: "Following my values will make life easier"

The modern consensus is that values are good, and if we follow our values we’ll be happier, and life will get better, right?

Mythbuster:
Here’s what no one tells you:

Following your deepest values means confronting your darkest fears.

Following our values involves owning up to what we really want in life and what is of secondary importance. Living our values also means risking the possibility of failing at something that we care about most.

Because we care so much about our values, by definition we are scared by them; they represent our highest hopes, and our darkest fears.

The trick is, to understand that these are two sides of the same coin. If we want the value, we must be willing to have the fear.

The real question is: if following your values was about carrying your deepest fears and anxieties with you, would you still be willing to follow them?