The grass on the other side may be Astroturf
How to determine if your desires and fears are well founded
“I want to be on corporate boards instead of running this department/company”, “I don’t want to advance because I’m happy at this level”. I’ve heard these diametrically different sentiments from the high performing/overachieving executives I coach. What is similar about them? They are making huge career and life decisions without really understanding what they are wishing for.
The grass on the other side could be very different from what it appears from where you are. Oftentimes you create images based on projections of what you want to believe. And those visions of what the other side is like can be disappointingly and devastatingly wrong. When you finally land in that dream spot, are you going to be thrilled or crushed to realize it’s not what you wished for? According to PyschCentral, a resource for psychological issues, the other side’s grass, i.e., whatever you are projecting outside of your current situation, is often based on fear or fantasy. Or both. The grass on the other side may seem to offer something that you are missing, whether it’s about your career, relationship, or where you live etc. Or you feel that you have to hang on tight to what you have because this is the best you can do. Both scenarios may be very wrong!
