Are You Leaving Your Job In The Hopes That It Will Make You A Different Person?

Some people travel the world and believe that being in a new country will magically transform them. Others quit their jobs and start a new one, in hopes that it will change their lives. In both cases, you will still be the same person—only now in a new country or company.? Unfortunately, you can't escape yourself; you are who you are wherever you are.

It is difficult to confront our own internal negative thoughts and voices, which control our emotions and actions.? We desperately want to believe that a change in scenery will make us better and happier.? Sadly, it is not that simple.

If you are unhappy in your current job and career, maybe you should consider other factors that are adversely affecting you—in addition to the work. Perhaps it is not the manager, your co-workers or company that are getting you down. Maybe a new job isn’t the answer to your unhappiness at work. Is it possible that you are the source of your own misery??

It happens all the time. You get stuck in a downward spiral of negativity. It could start with a bad boss, a blown opportunity or lost promotion.? Whatever the cause may be, it is clear to everyone else— except perhaps you—that you are in a career tailspin. Before beginning a new job search, I suggest that you engage in a little introspection.

Take a good, hard look at what you are doing, analyze your actions, thoughts and beliefs to determine if they are the cause of your discontentment.? If it is your own internal thoughts and actions that are causing you to be dissatisfied with your job, switching jobs will not make a difference. You will end up miserable there too.

Most people play an unending loop of negative thoughts in their minds. I am not good enough to get the promotion. I could never go back to school at my age to get an advanced degree. I'm not the type of person who will be picked to lead a team. Why don't I get any breaks? I'm not brave enough to ask for a big raise.? You need to confront these negative thoughts before you move on; otherwise, you will get a new job, but still have the same self-doubt and defeatist attitude.

Think about what your day is like at the office:

• What—if anything—are you doing to improve yourself or your situation?
• Are you helping or hindering your own career trajectory?
• What are you really doing at work? Are you doing actual work or just going through the motions?
• Have you ever asked for a raise or promotion?
• When was the last time you stood up to your manager or co-worker?
• Do you let others take the credit for your hard work?
• Do you arrive early, stay late and volunteer for challenging assignments?
• Are you allowing people to treat you shabbily?
• Have you sought out a mentor?
• Do you associate with co-workers who feed into your negativity and bring you down?

You will need to break out of this cycle of negative thoughts before you make any moves. It may take some time; however, once you remove toxic thoughts and behaviors, you can quickly drive your career forward.

I am not so naive to think that reading this will magically change your life - but it's a start. I would suggest that you begin working on your mindset. Most people succumb to the negative voices in their head that have been drummed into them since childhood.?

These voices—played on endless loops—beat you up with negativity, anxiety, fear of failure and the unknown and it becomes easier to do nothing than to act.? We all feel insecure, anxiety, nervousness, worry and fear. The only people who go through life without worry or fear are people too dumb to know what is happening around them, psychopaths and liars.

To jettison these beliefs, actions and inactions, you will have to rewire yourself.? Find a quiet place to relax your mind and visualize what you want to achieve in your job and career. Feel free to think big.?

Hyperfocus on your positive traits and have faith in yourself.?Take inventory of all your prior successes to counterbalance the negativity and rejection associated with interviewing.? Think of all the times you prevailed over seemingly insurmountable obstacles.?

Most people sprinkle their successes like dust scattered everywhere and pile up their losses into a mountain.? They then point to this mountain and lament about their failures and cannot find the triumphs.? Do the opposite. Collect all of your good, positive and winning moments and build them up to a large, New York skyscraper.? When the negative thoughts kick in, look to the gleaming skyscraper and think that you will add a new job to it.

Once you recognize how your thoughts are holding you back and eventually overcome them, it will free you to aggressively go after your goals. You may decide to remain at your job and fight for the pay and promotions you richly deserve or you could determine that you deserve much better than the way you are currently treated and enter the job search with a renewed sense of confidence, enthusiasm and drive.

#careeradvice #jobs #jobsearch #mindset