Self-Compassionate Professor

This episode concludes my conversation with Dr. Marissa Floyd. In this interview, recorded two days ago, we catch up since we spoke eight months ago about her recent pandemic-related job loss. Although her life circumstances are much more challenging now, she continues to exude groundedness, wisdom, and humility. In this episode, she teaches us how we can do the same by harnessing a positive mindset, communicating with potential employers from a place of strength and hope, building strong networks, practicing self-compassion, and more. It's all so good, especially if you're looking for a job now--during this particularly difficult historical period.    

So much great advice in this episode! Dr. Marissa Floyd picks up where she left off in Episode 13 and tells us about why she loves her job and why she loves working in Costa Rica. She also offers advice to others who want to create their own career opportunities. This is Part 2 of a three-part series. We'll get an update from Marissa in the next episode. 

While I don't talk to Dr. Victor J. Strecher in this episode, I discuss some of his research about life purpose as a public health issue. I explain how to create a "life GPS" (or life purpose) that guides you toward greater life fulfillment and less stress, anxiety, and overwhelm. I also talk about how to plug into your GPS and how to monitor whether or not you're on track. I love this stuff! 

In this episode, I discuss some of the elements of mid-career crisis: spiritual crisis, need to rebel, longing for something else, confusion, and loneliness, among others. Although our culture would have us believe otherwise, this process is entirely normal and should be surrendered to. 

Dr. Gloria Walker is an expert in career reinvention. While she helps others to reinvent themselves, she also has had three major career reinventions of her own. In this episode, she describes how with each change, she becomes clearer about who she is and what she cares about. She even discusses how her latest career has helped her to rediscover her intuition after having had it previously beat out of her by culture. "Everything changes and that's OK" is her guiding mantra, which as she explains, keeps her grounded. If you're in the midst of reinvention, this episode is for you. 

Because pandemic weirdness has taken over, I found that I needed a self-compassion break this week. Most of us need one right now so in this episode, I offer instructions about how to take a self-compassion break. My instructions are based on research in the area of Mindful Self-Compassion. 

In this episode, Dr. Erin Willer, Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Denver, draws on Stephen Cope's book, "The Great Work of Your Life" to discuss how it shaped her own career journey as an academic. One of my favorite questions she asks in this episode is this: "What is this doing for my heart and soul as opposed to my vita?" This is a question all of us should be asking ourselves. Enjoy the interview!

In this episode, I describe the four elements of the career change cycle and explain how to move through Stage 2 (visualizing and planning for career change) well. I offer tools and resources that will help you to explore, imagine, and play with different career identities and roles. In subsequent episodes, I'll explain the other stages. Stay tuned. 

In this episode, I talk about how a meaningful career takes shape in disciplined moments of presence: attending to those things you love and choosing those things moment by moment.