“What Are You Waiting For? Rethinking Career, Health, and Happiness”

“When the pandemic cancelled her concerts, world-class conductor Holly Mathieson felt… relieved.”  I heard this radio interview with a highly talented conductor Holly Mathieson who decided to retrain as a software developer at the peak of her 20 year career. 

It was 2020 and the pandemic was looming, people were cancelling concerts and the orchestra were texting Holly to find out if the rehearsals were on. When the news came through that everything was to be cancelled. That’s when she knew a change was needed. 

From a young age Holly was acknowledged for her incredible musical ability, a prodigy in classical music. This talent saw her career path being mapped out by her ability not her choices. Holly said she felt people around her were angry, some felt disappointed and shocked she could walk away from conducting. But Holly knew something had to change and acknowledged she had not been happy for a long time.

The radio programme (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002t1hc) gave a great perspective from a psychiatrist on how we as society view ‘Gifted’ / ‘talented’ individuals and how we often feel these individuals should feel grateful for their talent; for it not to be wasted. Not only that but they should be at the top of their game at all times and enjoy it. 

I’ve certainly been guilty of judging performance without understanding the pressure behind it. Let alone the daily sacrifices, intensive and repetitive training they go through, the strict regimes they follow in order to be at the top of their game. 

What stayed with me wasn’t the talent. It was the courage to change – even when everything looks successful from the outside.

I have seen, listened to, coached, met candidates, clients, friends, family who desperately want a change in career or change of lifestyle but often feel guilt and shame for wanting more out of life. Whether that be a better work life balance, more time with their children, retraining, taking time out or wanting to set up their own business.  

Why do we feel this pressure to “stay in our lane”… even when we’re unhappy?

You don’t have to wait for a crisis to make a change.

Money is often the driving force, but change doesn’t have to happen immediately. 

It takes time to investigate what you do want and don’t want in your life, sometimes accepting change is a goal in itself. 

As Emma Grede puts it, understanding your strengths is often the best starting point for change.

We often ignore the signals our body gives us: anxiety, insomnia, burnout, even physical symptoms.

Exploring your options now may benefit your health almost immediately. A study by the University of Essex found “Health worsens as the number of negative job aspects, such as low job satisfaction and security, increases” Relationship between number of negative job aspects and health

I’ve personally spent the last 6 months questioning my career path and priorities; exploring what I’m resisting and the change I want to happen. For me it was reducing anxiety by increasing my physical activity. So I’ve moved my office to a hot desking space where there is a gym. I now do 30 minutes of exercise or a fitness class before I start work or at lunchtime. Already I’m starting to feel mentally and physically healthier. Another small change was to start a face painting business for parties; I almost didn’t start because I was comparing my beginner skills to experts. Turns out kids don’t care. They just love it. And so do I.

My starting point to all of this was writing down what I wanted my main focus to be right now and how I could make that happen. Change doesn’t have to be dramatic to be meaningful.

Because staying where you are isn’t always the safer option. What are you tolerating right now that’s costing your health? What’s one small change you’ve been putting off?