Capturing Your Own Boundaries

Are you unconsciously creating some kind of boundary and fitting yourself inside it?

You might be wondering, what do you mean? (laughs)
I think this is actually quite common, but since it's something we do unconsciously, it's hard to notice.

To give a concrete example,


suppose you joined a company as a new graduate. The first department you were assigned to was development engineering. And before you know it, you're already in your fifth year. A department transfer seems likely in terms of your career soon.
You are considering options such as continuing as a development engineer in a department that handles different products, or going to a factory to gain more experience...

You can replace the above example with HR or administrative departments if you like.

What I want to say is that once people are placed in a certain environment, they tend to think about their career only as an extension of that, and that is what often happens.

I don't mean to say that is a bad thing. Mastering a path and becoming excellent at it is of great value.

But I don't think everyone needs to follow that kind of career path. Just because you were first assigned as an engineer or to HR, there is no rule anywhere that says you must continue on that path forever.

For example, it's fine for an engineer to become an HR professional halfway through. There is no rule prohibiting it.
Unfortunately, it might be psychologically and physically more difficult for an HR professional to become an engineer halfway through, but it's not absolutely impossible. It's perfectly fine to choose that option too.

However, when you notice it, you are only drawing your future as an extension of your current career, and I feel like that is a common occurrence.

Well, careers are difficult, aren't they? Even though there is no single correct answer, we tend to seek one. Accumulating an extension of your current career looks like the correct answer at first glance, too. It's safe and looks like the right answer. You probably feel less fear than if you were to stray from the path.

If you don't have anything you particularly want to do, I think that is certainly fine too.

But if you are feeling some kind of unease about the future as an extension of your current career, I think it might be good to stop and think about it.

"Are there any other routes for my career?"
Try asking yourself that in your heart. You might find something unexpected.

Straying from the path might be a little scary, though. The cause of that fear might lie in the fact that it is difficult to predict anything other than an extension of your current career. People feel fear toward things they cannot predict or imagine, after all.

Well, but it's not like you won't be able to survive, so it might be good to give it a try. You could even do it as a side job. You only live once, so I think it's perfectly fine to try things you are interested in and then make a judgment.

Are you unconsciously trapped by boundaries and closing off your possibilities?