How do you know when it’s time to leave a position or career that no longer excites you?
What I’ve discovered in working with clients over the past 7 years, is that when we’re stuck in one part of our life, we’re usually stuck in other parts as well. The good news is when we take action on one aspect of our lives, we usually get “unstuck” and also move forward in other parts of our lives (e.g. in our relationships).
Here are some signs it is time to make a change:
- Work and/or life are no longer fun for you
- You are no longer challenged by or passionate about your work
- You may often feel “wound up” and find it hard to relax
- You feel SOoo tired
- You frequently catch colds or get sick
- You may be experiencing some new health issues
Barriers to Change/Moving Forward
What holds us back from leaving a position/career?
Barriers to change include:
- Guilt that we will let people down
- Rationalizing that we have invested so much time and money in a particular career/business that it doesn’t make sense to leave it
- Fear of loss of approval
- Fear of the unknown
- Rationalizing that we have a good job, are making good money, and that we should be happy
- Fear of not making enough money
- Believing that we will never find the career/business of our dreams
Tips to help you embrace change and move forward
- Rate yourself on a scale from 1 to 10 (1 being “thrive on it” and 10 being “scares me to death”) as to how you usually respond to change. How you’ve responded to life changes in the past will provide you with clues as to how you may respond to change now.
- Reflect on your past experience with life changes; what have you learned that has supported you to adapt and move forward positively?
- Change your perspective. View change as an opportunity: for self-growth and learning; for exploring new solutions and ways of doing things; for “putting on a new pair of glasses” and seeing the world differently.
- Slow down and go inside yourself. Instead of keeping yourself busy, create some time and space for yourself each day. Set aside time in your schedule for you. Spend at least 30 minutes a day meditating, journaling, walking in nature, being.
- Get in touch with and acknowledge your feelings. Don’t push away your feelings; experience them. This allows the process of healing from the inside out to begin.
- Express those feelings. Draw, journal, paint, dance…
- Nurture and take care of yourself. Make sure you eat well, get enough sleep, and exercise regularly. Do something special for yourself on occasion, such as going for a massage, having a bubble bath, buying a new outfit; remember you are special and deserve the best.
- Reach out for support. Ask a friend, family member or life coach to help you. Surround yourself with people who believe in you and are not judgmental.
Based on past experience, how do you know that it’s time to leave a position or career? What strategies have you found useful to propel you forward/embrace change? I invite your comments below. Feel free to share this post with others. If you would like some support to rediscover your passion and find the career or business of your dreams this may be of interest – http://creativelivingcommunity.com/coaching/one-on-one-coaching/
Love this post! I especially appreciate how you emphasize that when you feel stuck in one area of life, there’s usually a clog somewhere else too. Thanks so much for such an informative piece!
Happy you found the post informative Sheila. Thanks for sharing what you most resonated with 🙂
Thanks for these supportive tips! I’ve gotten good at reflecting, being, acknowledging & nurturing my self & my inner thoughts/fears. What I need to work on is the expressing & asking for support! A great reminder! <3
Hi Tae, Good for you to acknowledge the need to work on expressing and asking for support! That’s one I continually need to work on as do most of my clients! Happy you found the post supportive 🙂
I enjoyed your post, Pam, especially the holistic piece; when one area is stuck other areas may be as well. The good news is once one area starts moving others open up as well 🙂 Wonderful tips on embracing change/fear of change.
Hi Lisa, Thanks for your thoughtful comments. Happy you found the tips helpful 🙂
Thanks for acknowledging the barriers. I think it’s a crucial step.
Hi Andrea, Often we are challenged to dig deep and to really get in touch with what is holding us back. Happy you found the barriers to change helpful. Thanks for taking the time to comment. Warmly, Pam
Wonderful post Pam. I’ve also found that getting unstuck in one area of life can shift other areas. I really appreciate the flow of your article from recognizing the signs that it’s time to make a change to barriers to change and how to embrace change. Very powerful!
Hi Pamela, Thanks for sharing your thoughts and positive feedback. Happy you found the post useful. Warm Hugs, Pam
Hi, Thanks for sharing a very informative post. When we really feel stuck and unhappy with what we are doing, it is time to assess and go for change. It will be a process but it is all worth it. Great post.
Hi Sheri, I so agree. Often we stay in positions that aren’t “feeding us” and we are both uncertain and afraid of making a change. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Warm Regards, Pam