Do you know one of the most common things I see that keeps lawyers from creating the careers or work-life balance they want—and that kept me from doing this for over a decade?

Fear.

Fear shows up as being hyper-vigilant, thinking about all the things that could go wrong.

Fear shows up as perfectionism, trying to avoid what we think might happen if we make a mistake.

Fear leads to “analysis paralysis,” as we convince ourselves there’s one “right” path for our career.

Fear is well-intentioned. Fear seeks to protect us.

But fear often runs on an outdated script.

When I guide my clients to explore the fears that are hindering them from creating the careers they want, they often discover childhood experiences in which it wasn’t safe to make a mistake. Or in which they only received love, praise, or approval if they performed well.

These scripts are often still running in our subconscious, guiding our behavior without our awareness.

It’s only when we bring them from the basement of our subconscious upstairs into the light of awareness that we can examine their origin and whether they still make sense in our adult lives.

As Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung said, “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.”

I spoke with a senior associate recently who told me she feels anxious every time she checks her work email because she worries she’ll find out she’s “in trouble.”

She also shared she rarely gets “in trouble” because she consistently exceeds expectations.

I gently asked, “Growing up, was it safe to make mistakes in your home?”

She responded, “Oh no. Definitely not.”

I often hear some version of this from the high-achieving lawyers I’m privileged to coach.

Thankfully, we can address these fears.

It may take time. It may be uncomfortable. But on the other side is freedom.

How about you? Do you suspect that fear, which may appear as worry, anxiety, excessive planning or control, may be playing a role in your current work experience?

For guidance on how to courageously create the career or work-life balance you seek, check out my free guide, The Career Alignment Map.

In your corner,

Jessie