HELP! I really dislike my career but the money is good-I’m so discouraged that I don’t have the energy to look for anything else. How do I find a new career that I feel passionate about?
First be aware that you are not alone
Statistics say that over 70% of Americans are unhappy in their jobs on any given day. Each day they go to work not quite sure what they do want but absolutely certain that this isn’t it. Do you feel restless, eager for some change, something more fulfilling and exciting that could stimulate your mind, your soul? (Wall Street Journal online) Do you feel overworked and underappreciated?
Perhaps at one time you felt inspired and passionate in your current position but as time has gone on you feel more like a droid and that anyone could do the job. You are buried in paperwork and the focus is less on the people you support than it is on having all the paperwork in place. You are a creative person and no longer feel that way. One more problem or complaint that you have to deal with might push you over the edge.
Yes, you are coming to realize that it’s time to take a good look at your priorities and make some changes before you have a meltdown.
Know that it takes courage to pursue a career you're passionate about when you're already working in one you dislike. It has been said that until you find your right livelihood you are just doing a job. Consider the following quote:
“A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself.” - Abraham Maslow
Here are some tips to discover what your passion and purpose might be:
Look inside
The answer is never outside of you. Make a list of all the things you enjoy doing and see if you find a pattern. Here are some questions to ask yourself. What did you love to do as a child or young adult? What did you want to be when you grew up? Why didn't you go after what you wanted? What got in the way? Write down your answers to these questions. This can take some time and soul searching. Star the top five items on your list.
Criteria for recognizing your passion and purpose:
You feel good about yourself when doing this
You would do if for free if money was not an issue
You immerse yourself in it and loose all track of time
You want to talk about it and teach others
You could spend most of your time doing this
You wake up excited to start your day
Look at your top five choices again and see if they fit the criteria discussed above and discard the ones that don't fit.
Narrow down to your top 2 choices and now visualize yourself in your new careers. Give yourself time to try these careers out in your mind before you determine which one ultimately would work best.
Congratulations! By taking some action and seeing other options and possibilities for your career you are now moving closer towards it.(You may be experiencing increased levels of energy just by taking this action) There is more action you must take; however, you've taken a huge first step. You might be asking this next question:
Now that I know what I'm passionate about, what do I do next?
Stay tuned for next month's newsletter to learn a process that moves you closer to your passionate career