In the middle of confusion, many of us hope for one event that will clarify everything, that will transform our stumbling moves into a story that makes sense. Julio Gonzales, a doctor trying to leave the practice of medicine, put it like this: “I was waiting for an epiphany. I wake up in the middle of the night and the Angel of Mercy tells me this is what I should do.” Some people do experience pivotal moments in which what they are seeking is crystallized. But for every person who changes career in response to some sort of trigger, another fails to take the leap, and a third finds a moment of truth in a trivial but symbolic occurrence.

Making sense refers to the practice of putting a frame around experience: interpreting what is happening today, reinterpreting past events, and creating compelling stories that link the two.[1] A life story defines us. Consider how we come to feel that we really know someone: We might know them well enough to predict their behavior; but we only really know them when we know their stories—the underlying narratives that lend meaning, unity, and purpose to their lives.[2] The same is true for knowing ourselves. As this chapter illustrates, we make sense of chaotic changes by infusing events with special meaning and weaving them into coherent stories about who we are becoming.

Taken From: Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career

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