4 Questions to Help You Let Go of the Old and Pursue a New Career

Have you ever felt like you’re stuck in a boring job or that you’ve been walking down the wrong career path? You’re not alone. In fact, a survey found that nearly 90 per cent of participants felt unengaged from their work.

Imagine that: only one out of ten people actually love what they do for a living! Meanwhile, nine out of ten employees are dedicating hours of their lives to jobs that make them feel empty inside.

Knowing this, are you content with feeling trapped, simply going through the motions to bring home a paycheck? Or do you want to pursue a career that brings you joy and meaning?

Reviewing Your Career So Far

The good news is that it’s never too late to awaken your ambition and change the trajectory of your life. But before you take the leap, it’s important to know what made you so unhappy about your career in the first place. You might even uncover some commonalities between unfulfilling jobs from the past or recurring patterns when it comes to your bosses. This can help you determine the factors that are keeping you from reaching your true potential.

That said, a great way to assess your journey so far is to write in your journal every day, as this activity is perfect for introspection, self-reflection, and mindfulness. By reconnecting with your inner compass, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of what is no longer working for you. Only by identifying these can you release yourself from your own mind’s prison and work toward a fresh beginning.

With this in mind, read on for four key questions that can help you reflect and evaluate where you’re currently at so you can let go of the old and make room for the new.

Am I motivated to go to work?

If you’re only clocking in to earn a consistent income and nothing more, you’re likely in the wrong job. Unfortunately, using money as a motivator can only get you so far. This is because it’s an extrinsic motivator rather than an intrinsic one.

But when you find a job that you love, you’ll practically jump out of bed every morning. You may want to keep working because you’re learning something new each day or because you enjoy the work itself. In certain cases, you may feel driven to do your best because your values align with those of the company. Whatever your motivations may be, keep them in mind as you search for new work opportunities.

Do I feel engaged by my current job?

Ideally, you should find work that comes easily to you, allowing you to take advantage of your natural inclinations and existing skill set. But if your job feels too easy and repetitive, this may be a sign that you’ve hit the ceiling for growth.

As much as possible, you want a career that allows your true talent to shine. That way, your tasks will feel less tedious and more like play. And when you’re genuinely interested in what you do for a living, you’ll never feel bored at work.

Am I always inspired to do my best?

When you hate your job, finishing any assignment feels like pulling teeth. In the worst of cases, you might start doing only the bare minimum to get through the work, or even stop putting in any effort at all.

So, when you pursue a new career, make sure you review what is important to you. Think about the times that you actually felt inspired at work and why. Perhaps you had an encouraging boss or were rewarded whenever you reached a certain goal. Then, look for these qualities when assessing job opportunities.

Truly, the right job will constantly push you to perform well. Even when certain challenges come your way, you’ll feel determined to overcome them. You might even voluntarily do more work than is asked of you simply because you’re enjoying what you do.

Do I like being around my co-workers?

A toxic workplace makes you feel vulnerable, unable to focus on your tasks. Instead of supporting each other, people may constantly gossip and attempt to drag each other through the mud. If you find yourself in such an environment, extract yourself from it before it can get any worse.

Once you’ve recovered, you’ll want to look for a job that provides you with a much healthier work environment. It should make you feel safe to be around your bosses and colleagues. Ideally, your company should nurture a culture of collaboration and help you feel like part of the team.

In Conclusion

It may be difficult to give your career an honest assessment, but it will help you gain a better understanding of what brings you true happiness and meaning.Once you’ve determined what makes you feel miserable at work, you can then decide that it’s time to let them go. This is self-empowering and puts more value on your life, making sure that you can move toward the future and create your new world.