When working with clients, I stress the importance of understanding how reason and emotion play equal and important roles in our decision-making. In my opinion, it is important for individuals who are pursuing new career goals to understand rationally what their strengths and skills are, but it is equally important that they understand how what they feel about any given situation affects their perceptions of themselves. Introspection is part of any career-building process.

• The above triangle is a way of visualizing the process.

• When working with clients I suggest that all our planning and decisions should take into consideration the above three essential elements. And it is important to note that these three elements are inter-related and interconnected.

• Affective connections, which go hand in hand with the cognitive process, refer to feelings. Our feelings affect our thoughts and consequently our decisions.

Listening To Yourself

A friend of mine once thought he wanted to be a doctor because his father was a doctor. Also because he was the oldest son he felt he should carry on "the tradition."

He therefore undertook to study medicine but soon discovered that he did not like it. After considerable thought and examining his feelings and his motivations, he realized that his skills were more in the field of social sciences and therefore he changed his plan of action and studied Psychology.