Confession: I used to feel ashamed about the many directions my 30-year working life has taken, differing from those in single careers for decades. Some employers saw the value in my diverse experience, while others viewed it as a red flag. What other’s think is beyond my control, and with today’s VUCA market, fewer employers can honestly guarantee long-term stability.
One aspect I have never regreted is honouring the emerging versions of myself.
You might recognise this feeling – a nascent and persistent self-whispering of untapped potential and new paths. I suspect its what poet Rilke experienced when he wrote, “… many signs indicate that the future enters into us in this way in order to transform itself in us long before it happens.”
For many, this emerging self persists despite current responsibilities, guiding us towards new horizons. Sometimes, there’s no professional space for this emerging self on job-boards, which may explain why millions decide start businesses – as I have, many times.
Listening to our emerging selves can be uncomfortable. It challenges our established identity, questioning career foundations. I recall a time when my evolving beliefs diverged from my industry, speaking of a more innovative approach than my traditional environment held tight.
This shift created tension – a professional cognitive dissonance demanding a resolution. It would’ve been easier to conform, but I couldn’t ignore the congruent call in this emerging self. The pull was to pivot, into uncertainty, into discovery, into integrity.
Recently, I’ve come to appreciate A.N. Whitehead’s process and relational philosophy. He posited reality as dynamic, interconnected processes rather than static substances. In this light, we might consider that our professional identity isn’t fixed but a continual becoming, with each moment offering growth opportunities. Morf and Mischel (2012) suggest our identity is fluid, shaped by experiences and choices. Along with Whiteheadian thought, this ‘fluid becoming’ provides a kind of valuable framework for embracing one’s professional evolution.
I now sincerely believe that building skills to understand and regulate our emerging self is crucial. This means being aware of ourselves, handling discomfort, and questioning our beliefs. This kind of self-regulation allows adaptation while maintaining a coherent identity. In other words, we can change titles, tasks and environment while maintaining an authentic sense of our deeper selves.
Reflecting, I see our ‘becoming’ as continuous – even with decisions to stay somewhere, we must actually make active adjustments to do so. Regardless, each emerging version of us is a stepping stone. By honouring this process, we participate in authentic growth, embodying an ongoing creative becoming.
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(Morf, C. C., & Mischel, W. (2012). The Dynamic Self: Toward an Integration of Personality and Social Psychological Perspectives