It is estimated that an American is injured each second — some more seriously than most, according to the National Safety Council. If you’ve experienced a life-changing injury, figuring out what’s best for your health is often the priority. Once you’ve secured your physical wellness, it’s time to take a look at what else can benefit you. If you feel like you want to have a career again, but feel doubtful about whether it is possible or not, there are simple yet effective ways to remain hopeful about it.
Set A Specific Goal
Before you get started, it’s important that you set a clear goal on what you wish to accomplish. Setting a goal has roots in psychology: an individual can effectively change towards a necessary behavior in order to meet a specific need, according to Lesley Scobbie and company. So having a vague goal of “I want a career” isn’t helpful. Instead, set a specific goal like “I want to work at my old job again,” or “I want to try being a writer.” Specific goals like these do a lot more to help with your motivation and give you direction. Doing this also helps you check the feasibility of your goals.
Seek Legal Aid
Beyond having the motivation to have a career, you must know your rights. If your injury has left you with some form of disability, your rights to employment, housing and education are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Also, if you sustained your life-changing injury while at your place of work, it would be smart to consult with a personal injury lawyer. They should be able to give you a clear idea of your rights and how you can proceed with your plans to jumpstart your career once again. Doing this grants you the opportunity to view your legal options so you can be protected moving forward.
Practice Mental Self-Care
It is quite common for people who experience injuries to have post-injury psychological reactions. Some of these reactions include anger, depression, denial and PTSD, according to the Performance Health Academy. Jumpstarting a career after you’ve sustained an injury can be quite the source of stress, which can exacerbate existing psychological conditions. As such, it is vital that you practice mental self-care. You can do this by seeking therapy to help you work out your fears and concerns in a safe environment. You can even reach out to your friends and family so that they may help you with your feelings and thoughts. Being in a healthy mental state can help give you an edge to fulfilling your goal of building a career.
A life-changing injury does not mean the end of pursuing a career. Yes, it is granted that things will be more challenging. However, it is best that you go about things at a pace that you’re comfortable with. Explore your options carefully, and trust in your personal capacity to overcome adversity. You may end up pleasantly surprised to find what you are truly capable of.