Career Professionals of Canada News Feed

Instead of Work-Life Balance, Learn to Live a Blended Life

May 12, 2021 | Comments Off on Instead of Work-Life Balance, Learn to Live a Blended Life

Many career practitioners struggle to find a balance between their family and their career. Yikes! Even as I write that sentence, I cringe. What is this elusive “balance” that people refer to? Instead of balance, I have learned to live a “blended” life. In his book Who’s Got Your Back, author Keith Ferrazzi writes about the idea of living a blended life, not a balanced one. “The elements you see in [your life] aren’t individual territories or fiefdoms. They should, and will, overlap!” This got me thinking about how often I…

Character Strengths: The Foundation of a Fulfilled Life

April 30, 2021 |

As a guidance counsellor working in an adult learning centre, I support adults who are struggling to find a place where they fit in the new world of work. In my view, it is essential for individuals going through a work transition to have a certain sense of hope for the future. It helps if they take the time to thoughtfully assess their needs so that they don’t jump frantically on the first job offer that comes their way. Doing so may put them at risk of experiencing another setback.…

How Do You Help Clients Develop Their Emotional Intelligence?

April 28, 2021 |

In your practice, you may have encountered clients who consistently have difficulty securing and maintaining good opportunities. Despite having all the required qualifications, they can’t seem to get ahead in their careers. You may also observe that other people with little education or experience seem to land jobs and promotions with ease. For these individuals, it just might be that competencies related to Emotional Intelligence (EI) have made all the difference in their career progression and performance. The good news is that EI can be learned and it is possible…

Lifelong Learning and Self-Care: Why They Matter

April 9, 2021 |

As a Career Development Practitioner and Certified Work-Life Strategist (CWS), I have always believed that lifelong learning and self-care truly matter. A few months ago, I had the pleasure of collaborating with an exceptional team of fellow CDPs and other subject matter experts in the development and validation of Career Professional of Canada’s new Work-Life Coaching program. I was very fortunate to be a student in the pilot program. Not only did I learn a LOT that was new to me (“ikigai” comes to mind), but the experience reinforced my…

A Holistic Approach to Wellness: Why it Matters

February 19, 2021 | Comments Off on A Holistic Approach to Wellness: Why it Matters

The theme of wellness dominated many aspects of our lives in 2020 and continues into this year. Yet, many may not fully understand the meaning of the word. Wellness is multidimensional. The Global Wellness Institute defines it as: “the active pursuit of activities, choices, and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health.” When someone asks, “How are you doing?” you may likely respond, “I’m doing well” or “fine.” But under the surface, there may be layers of emotion that need to be stripped away like onion peels to achieve greater balance and peace. You…

Purpose and Spark – Is There a Difference?

February 12, 2021 | Comments Off on Purpose and Spark – Is There a Difference?

Disney recently released its newest movie called “Soul.” It’s about a middle school music teacher who feels stuck in life and unfulfilled at his job. This one-line synopsis alone would likely be enough to hook the interest of most career practitioner viewers. They may possibly wonder, “Where are they going with this?” Personally, I took away many great messages on both the meaning of life and work – messages that relate closely to the work we do with our clients. I learned that finding your “spark” – something that you’re…