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| The Life Coach Comic Strip |
When
was the last time you sat down and figured out if you still liked
what you do for a living? Nobody has the perfect job, and no one
works for the perfect boss in the perfect company, and yet we stay
stuck in jobs we don't like. Yes, we whine about our bosses and the
company politics, and this guy's attitude or that woman's
incompetence, but what about our own situation?
It
is deceptively easy to complain about the things around us. When you
sit down and reflect on the work you spent years studying for, or
several courses to stay ahead of the game, you know you are not
happy. Yet, you stay there doing the same thing day after day.
Here
are a few questions that you need to (honestly) answer for yourself:
1.
How satisfied are you with your career achievements?
2.
Does your career stimulate you and help to help you develop as a
person?
3.
How satisfied are you with your relationships at work?
4.
Is your working life in balance with the rest of your life?
5.
Do you want to change your career, your employer, or both?
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| The Life Coach Comic Strip (Education and Career) |
These
questions are but a few of the things you need to consider, but if your answers to
these five do not leave you with a positive feeling, then it might be
time to reconsider your professional journey.
I
live in a country where people go to university (or other educational
institution), get their qualifications and then do that exact same
kind of work for the rest of their lives. The only exception would be
if they get promoted into management positions, and often because
they don't see any other advancement options available to them.
Very
few new managers ask for training, mentoring or coaching to help them
get into this career, and even fewer of them leave the company to do
what they rather want to do somewhere else. Or change careers
altogether. It may be the way we are raised in this country, or
perhaps people instead want financial security instead of living a
life of contentment and satisfaction.
From
personal experience, these two (security and happiness) are not
exclusive. I have changed careers over the years and continue to
learn and educate myself for new (and different) opportunities in the
future.
Fear
and uncertainty are huge motivators for people not to change because
rather the devil you know that the one you don't know, right?
However, is this way of thinking really what you need? Change is only
a problem for people who are satisfied in their comfort zones,
however uncomfortable that situation might be. It is only when the
discomfort becomes unbearable that change. The only question relevant
here is: how much more time are you going to waste in that
uncomfortable zone?
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| The Life Coach Comic Strip (Time to choose) |
The
younger generation finds it easier to make those changes, but middle
age shouldn't stop anyone from making changes in their own lives too.
Retired, but not ready to sit on the porch? This is the place you
want to be. You have the opportunity now to be a coach or mentor to
someone else, and get paid for it!
So
here is the question again (rephrased a bit): if you are not happy in
your current job, why are you still there?
Next
time we take a look at our physical wellbeing.
Until
then, make your work life the best for your wellbeing.
✍️ Lizette
