St. Patrick's Day got me thinking of all the old Irish sayings I've heard over the years.  For some reason, this one has always resonated with me:  

    "Don't break your shin on a stool that is not in your way."

It makes me think of all the ways we can sabotage our own job search efforts, putting up imaginary barriers and allowing a lack of confidence to hold us back. Most of these self-limiting thoughts boil down to two big worries: fear of inadequacy and/or fear of discrimination.

"I'm not good enough"
Most people start out inexperienced, with limited skills. Most people are not computer whizzes. Most people don't have college degrees. Most people don't know all the rules of resume writing, interviewing, or negotiating salary. Most people have gaps in their resumes. Most people are unsure of themselves.  And yet… most people who want to work have jobs. And most people, when they leave or lose their jobs, find another one — often better than the last! 

"I might face discrimination."
Yes, you might. There are jerks out there. If you meet one, walk away and try again — don't give them the power to stop you. People of both genders, and all ages, races, religions, sizes, sexual orientations, and abilities have good jobs. Employers want to hire enthusiastic human beings with the ability and desire to learn and to contribute to the success of their businesses. You can do that.

In closing, I'll leave you with a couple more reminders from the Oul' Sod: "Nobody ever said t'would be easy," and "You'll never plough a field by turning it over in your mind." So stop worrying about tripping over a stool and take a solid step toward your career goals today.

As the ancient 'Irishman' Lao Tzu said, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."