Sooner or later, everyone finds a calling in life in which they recognize themselves. It’s like finding a pair of shoes you didn’t know about but not being able to imagine another day without wearing them. The perfect pair of shoes that fits exactly your feet that doesn’t rub your skin, that isn’t too tight or too loose, and that keeps your legs feeling light all day long. You know the feeling: It’s the dream of every shopper. When it comes to a choice of career, your calling is exactly like the perfect pair of shoes. It fits perfectly and completely. For a lot of people, a career is a lot more than earning a living. It’s about leaving a positive mark in the world and coming back home feeling that you’ve made a difference for someone. And if you are a passionate and social individual, it’s natural to consider a career that allows you to help others and to guide them through a difficult situation. But ultimately, here’s the question you need to answer for yourself: Is a counseling career the right thing for you?
Do you see yourself as a counselor?
It’s not for everyoneFirst of all, you need to know that not everyone can be a counselor. In fact, the counselor personality is, according to the Myers-Briggs type indicator, the rarest of all personalities. The counselor personality, or INFJ, stands for Introverted, iNtuitive, Feeling and Judging. While it is a little vague, it basically means that you need to be a private person who enjoys spending time with a small group of friends, who focuses on patterns rather than facts, who is able to listen to your gut feelings and prioritize your relationships to others, and finally who is able to plan things rather than act on impulse. If you’re not sure of your personality type, you might want to take the Myers-Briggs test.
The Myers-Briggs personalities
Are you ready to put work into it?Additionally, having the right personality for your choice of career is helpful, but it’s not enough. You also need to hone your skills and study, using options that suit in your lifestyle such as the masters in counseling programs online that let you learn at your pace and when it fits your schedule. Ultimately, if you’re planning a change of career, an online program is the safest choice, as it allows you to keep your day-to-day work until you’re ready to switch.
Can you keep your emotional sanity?
Finally, you need to be emotionally ready for what there is to come. Careers that let you work with people struggling with a range of difficulties, from social workers to counselors, can be emotionally straining. You need to develop very early in your career a healthy balance so that the situations you come across through your work don’t damage you. Sticking to a routine can be helpful, such as taking regular breaks during the day and looking after your diet. But keep an eye for warning signs of stress too, such as poor sleep and negativity.
Hopefully, this helps you to figure out if you’ve got what it takes to become a counselor. Follow your gut feelings: They’ll take you where you need to be.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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