Career Reflection: What Fits Me?
In this article you’ll learn how career reflection can help you discover what fits you, with practical tools and clear explanations.
Career reflection is a process in which you step by step explore what truly fits you in work and career. The method commonly used here comes from the field of career psychology and is strengthened by ACT, an approach that helps with thoughts, feelings, and the choices that come with them. In simple terms, you learn to listen better to what you actually want, without immediately locking yourself into a dream image. The goal is not to find the perfect job right away, but to create enough direction so that you can justify each step by what matters to you. First we identify where you gain energy and where you lose motivation; then we translate that into concrete actions. With three powerful tools – Values Inventory, Talent Profile, and Energy Matrix – you get a yardstick for future choices. And because this is about self-reflection, the PFC, i.e., the prefrontal cortex, plays a crucial role in simple terms. When your actions align with what you value, work feels more meaningful and you are more motivated by what you do. The brain's reward network supports this process by making progress and rewards align with your goals, making perseverance more natural.
Gaining Insight into What Fits You
Career reflection starts by clarifying where your interests, talents, and values come together. The first step is to ask yourself a few simple questions: which tasks energize me, which activities cost me little or no effort, and which values do I want to see reflected in my work? Through career psychology you gain a framework: it helps you understand why certain tasks or roles are appealing to you and why others fit less well. ACT also emphasizes that it’s okay to have doubts; however, it asks you to make small, doable choices that still provide direction. Keep the conversation with yourself open and curious: what role do you play in an ideal workweek, and what concrete action can you take today? Use the three tools as if they were a compass: describe your top values, name your strong talents, and observe when your energy peaks. If you do this regularly, a clearer picture emerges of what fits you and which direction you want to take.
The Value of Values Inventory, Talent Profile, and Energy Matrix
The Values Inventory helps you discover which core values drive you in work and life. Think of freedom, security, creativity, collaboration, or responsibility. By listing these values and prioritizing them, you get a clear compass for decisions such as a job application, a project, or a new task. The Talent Profile shows where your strengths lie; provide examples from recent experiences and describe which tasks you did with pleasure. The Energy Matrix indicates when you perform at your best and when your energy fades. Create a matrix with two axes: energy and satisfaction. Tasks that score high on both are your best options. Together, these three tools form a powerful combination: a job that aligns with your values, where your talents are well utilized, and that energizes you, is more of a direction that fits you than a pipe dream. Document everything so you can test it against your future choices later.
How PFC and the Brain's Reward Network Provide Direction
PFC stands for the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain at the front of the head involved in planning, control, and self-regulation. In plain terms: this part of the brain helps you think ahead, set goals, and organize actions step by step. Self-reflection, or monitoring what works and what doesn’t, emerges from PFC activity. The brain’s reward network responds positively to progress that aligns with your values, which motivates you to keep going. ACT provides practical tools to work with this: acknowledge doubt and tension, let thoughts pass without being controlled by them, and commit yourself to actions that serve your values. Through short reflection rituals you can continuously check whether a choice aligns with what matters to you and whether it contributes to your desired course. A simple exercise is to formulate three short sentences: (1) what is my main value here, (2) which small step can I take today, (3) what rewarding effect motivates me to persevere. In this way you turn abstract values into concrete steps.
Concrete Steps to Start Today
To make progress today, you can start right away with four simple tasks. First: take ten minutes to complete the Values Inventory and pick up to five core values that matter most to you. Second: work on your Talent Profile by describing short examples in which you used those talents and what it yielded. Third: fill in the Energy Matrix by placing two to three tasks from this week on the matrix: which tasks energize and satisfy you, and which drain energy? Fourth: plan one concrete step for tomorrow that directly aligns with your top value and talent, and note the reward you’ll give yourself if you actually take that step. Use ACT techniques consistently, such as acceptance and commitment: accept that uncertainty is part of career choices, but commit to doable actions that match your values. Keep a short journal noting what worked, what didn’t, and what your next step will be. With this approach you build a career step by step that stays true to who you are, with more energy and better reinforcement of successes.
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