Dear Dr. Lisa,

I am writing out of desperation. I hope you can help me. I hate my job. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I stumbled on to this path. It pays well but I am sick of it. I don’t know how to get out. I have some other career interest, but any move would likely require a large cut in pay that I cannot afford. I’m stuck.

Signed

Stuck and Miserable

 

Dear Stuck and Miserable,

I hate when this happens and it happens far too often. People hate their jobs. The first thing we have to tackle is your feeling of hating your job. I am not saying we will get to a place of loving the job but we have to leave the hate space behind. First, reconnect with the company’s mission. What are they doing to bring goodness to the world? Whatever that goodness is, write it down and keep it close. Next, connect to the goodness this job brings to your life. Each day you work there, you get this nice check and you to live how you are living. Write down the good things about that. For example, you may work with great people. Write that down. You get the idea – you have to find the goodness that exists and stay focused on that. It’s gratitude.

Next, decide what you want. If transitioning to new work is what you want, what will it cost you? Retraining is an expense. A reduction in salary also has a cost. How much do you want this change? Can you afford to pay the price? Answering these questions should help you get clear. If your ideal job is off of the table, what is an achievable alternative? You see the logic. You have to evaluate where you are, what you want and what you are willing to do to get it. With that clarity, you can choose and I guarantee you that by making a choice, you take your place in the driver’s seat of your career and eliminate any stumbling. You will no longer be stuck and miserable.

Best of Luck,

Dr. Lisa

PS: – Your theme song is “Living My Best Life” by Lil Duval