Did you know that less than 15% of the American workforce is truly “engaged” in their work each day? This means that more than 80% are frustrated and unfulfilled in their daily work.
Throughout history, men and women have been conditioned to think of their jobs as drudgery to endure for a paycheck. The weekend is often thought of as an escape from it! With this kind of dreadful mindset, it’s no wonder why most heart attacks on the job occur on Monday mornings—as the “ghastly chore” resumes.
If the above description has your name written all over it, you may be considering what your next move should be—and when to begin the process.
There are several signs that it’s time to start a new job search! According to Forbes.com, a few dead giveaways of total job frustration include:
- You’re unhappy most of every day doing your job.
- The environment is tainted with extreme toxicity—including your boss and colleagues.
- The skills that you’ve been hired to use for this job aren’t a fit for what you’re good at or enjoy.
- You believe deep down that you’re meant for better, bigger, and more thrilling things.
- The outcomes that you’re working toward feel meaningless or negative to you.
What’s really important?
Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, discovered several important truths as he went through an intimate experience with suffering. He realized human beings want meaning and purpose in life much more so than seeking pleasure or avoiding pain. He determined through his experience in a Nazi concentration camp that there are three things that give meaning to life: first, a project; second, a significant relationship; and third, a redemptive view of suffering. While in the camp he looked forward to seeing his wife, he worked tirelessly on his book manuscript, and through understanding the purpose of his pain he was able to survive—when others did not.
So, is it time for you to begin searching for a job that brings meaning and purpose rather than enduring the drudgery of being in the wrong line of work? The challenge to find work that you truly enjoy involves three things:
- identifying your skills and abilities
- understanding your personality
- recording your values, dreams, and passions
Next steps
If you think something needs to change with your work, or if you have a sneaking suspicion that your job may be coming to an end soon—then it may be time you do something about it!
For more information on ways you can transition to a new career, read “Want to Find a Joy That Is Meaningful to You?”
Best wishes in your new career!