July 2024 Newsletter - Still Living on Mission? (Or Time to Course Correct?)

Well, say goodbye to summer solstice!  The song of the cicadas has ended and the fireworks have fizzled from the sky, leaving June and July in the rear-view mirror.  Each passing day is shorter and if we blink twice 2024 will be all but a fading memory.  So, before you get hyped up about next year being different “this time," how are you doing at the official halfway point?  Gulp.

In January, I published a newsletter on ditching that new year’s resolution and creating your personal mission statement to direct you into the year.  January 2024 Newsletter - "So, What is Your Mission?" | LinkedIn If you remember, a personal mission statement a simple statement that describes in your own words what your purpose is in life.  It is that unique cause that gets you out of bed in the morning.  It fills up your spirit and gives your life a different level of meaning.  Your life becomes more focused, flexible, and emotionally grounded with this as your guide.

So, where are you now?   If you have not done so already, now is the ideal time to take a step back and ask how is my work aligning with my mission?  Am I able to live out my mission in my current job or is there more of me to give than what I am able to offer in my current work arrangement?  This may be the time to course correct but if you do not make time for the evaluation, you may end up drifting into another year.

For many of us, it may be the exact time to change course in our careers.  But how do we really know for sure?  Below I have identified three indicators that you are ready to move on.

1. You have asked and answered the tough questions.

When considering a change, it is always a good idea to continually ask yourself “What could make my current job better?”  So often it is easy to overlook the possibilities in our current situation, especially if we are feeling burned out or like we are stuck in a rut.   Is there a different department, manager, project, role, or office setting that could change the way that you feel about your job that could make you feel more purposeful?  If you were working less hours, how would that change things?  How much of your unhappiness is related to the job responsibilities versus some other factor at work?  Continue to ask yourself the tough questions to make sure you are exhausting all options at your current company before thinking of jumping ship.

Self-coaching in this way is beneficial, however who else in your life knows how you are feeling about work?  Identify the people closest to you and meet with them to discuss how you are feeling.  Ask them if they have noticed a change in you.   We all have a personal blind spot, so engaging someone close to you could reveal new information about your situation and perhaps even validate your current thinking.

Once you have exhausted all your options and talked it through with those in your inner circle, assess how you are feeling.  If you are convinced that there is no change that could change the way you feel, recognize this as an indicator that it is time to move on.

2. You believe you are moving toward something better.

What keeps people stuck doing what they don’t want to do? I believe that, more often than not, our own limited thinking entraps us. Our brains do a pretty good job of trying to keep us safe, even if it means feeling unhappy in our jobs. After all, our brains are hardwired to protect us.  Quite simply, our thinking is limited to the safety and security of what is known to us, despite the hardship associated with it.

Thus, we are responsible for reprogramming our brains with new beliefs. We need to develop and hold the belief that something better is in our future, just around the corner. Hold on to the belief that there is a company or career out there that will align closely with your life mission.  Believe that you are attracting what you are putting out into the universe—abundance, enthusiasm, and purpose. Put your faith in these things, and believe that the Universe is conspiring for your good.

Recognize that by pursuing a new job or career, you aren’t running away from something that isn’t working for you. Rather, you are running toward something that is more in alignment with your core values, principles, and beliefs. The only thing you have given up on is a job that is no longer serving you or allowing your light to shine the brightest. You have a unique purpose to fulfill, and now you are putting yourself in the right position for the world to receive all the gifts you have to offer. If you’re tempted to feel bad because people at your company are not happy with you, resist that “quitter” mindset. Be at peace knowing that your reward is on the other side.

3. It feels right in your spirit.

The final sign that you know it is time to leave is that it just feels right in your spirit. When we make big decisions in our lives, overanalyzing the facts is easy. We can play what-if scenarios that keep us feeling stuck. What if I leave and things are worse on the other side? What if this new opportunity is not as glamorous as the job description? What if I end up on a sinking ship with no life preserver? We can spend so much time in our heads that we lose sight of our own intuition.

I believe God speaks to us through our intuition. Regardless of your beliefs about God or the Universe, our intuition is a powerful sense and looks out for us at all times. This is something that cannot be explained through head knowledge. Instead, intuition is a feeling that pushes us toward something or cautions us to pull away. So, be cognizant of that inner guidance when thinking about your next move. And if moving on feels right, honor that feeling, and let it guide you to where you need to be.

Appreciate where you are in your work journey and accept that change is good. And when you reach the point where you have asked the tough questions, exhausted all options at work, you believe you are moving toward something better, and are validated by your inner guidance, recognize that it is time to change course.

Ryan Walter, ACC, PE

Follow me @ Rethinkwildly.com

I am a certified professional life coach and professional engineer and help professionals navigate the human challenges of work.  My mission is to help people get unstuck in their personal and professional lives.  Some of the areas that I coach people on include work fulfillment, life purpose, work-life balance, personal boundaries, assertiveness, and relational conflict.

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of life coaching or would like to see how it works first-hand, please reach out to me to schedule a free consultation.  You can also schedule a session in my booking calendar for a time that works for you. Free Consultation Call - ReThink Wildly