If my Intelligence is so "Natural" - how come I need Career Guidance?

In my last blog I talked about Natural Intelligence and how it forms an integral part of our being from the time we were very small. I found that when a client discovered their natural intelligence in our sessions, they often said things like:

"I always knew this, but didn't know I knew it"

or

" I always had a sense of this, but never was able to put it into words"

or

" I knew I could sort of do this, but I thought it was no big deal, because I thought everyone else could do this too"

So if these gifts that we discover are such a natural part of ourselves, why do we need Career Guidance? Why can we just not access them ourselves?

I have found that it can be extremely difficult for people to identify natural skills and talents and apply them to their careers by themselves. It seems that this process is far easier, more enjoyable and successful if we seek the help of a qualified professional.

I have identified some recurring difficulties in identifying our own natural intelligence:

1. 
   
   The Intelligence we have uncovered does not fall within the realm of conventional intelligence so we don't recognise it as such


2. 
   
   It may have been an intelligence that we used very much when we were younger but were told that this is not a real intelligence - it would never lead to a "real" job


3. 
   
   It may form so much part of our personality that we never recognised our gift at all


4. 
   
   We may have had a sense of our gift, but never thought that it could be applied "in the real world"


5. 
   
   Some gifts are so subtle and fine, that it is almost impossible to grasp them or "pin them down" without some kind of objective observation.


6. 
   
   Each individual's gift is so unique that, for the most part, we cannot follow rigidly set down and traditional career paths.


7. 
   
   Discovering our natural gifts can mean uncovering deeper parts of ourselves. Many times it is reassuring to feel that someone can help us to navigate through this.

Career Guidance can then:

1. 
   
   Create a safe, objective environment to explore our natural potential


2. 
   
   Provide the structure to clarify and verbalise practically what these gifts are


3. 
   
   Reassure us that these findings are actually gifts and talents


4. 
   
   Explore how the uncovering of these gifts will influence other parts of our lives


5. 
   
   Introduce a broader context to allow us explore how these newly discovered gifts can be applied to our careers and ultimately to our lives.