Ask Laura: Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Every Thursday, Ask Laura answers a question from readers. Got a question? You can submit it here.

Dear Laura,

I was really excited to start a new job several years ago, but now I’m bored and unstimulated. I have a lot of talents and a lot of interests, and I’m not sure if staying in this job will be the right fit. How do I figure out if I should work with my existing situation or change directions completely? And if I do the latter, how do I figure out what I want to do with my life?

-Stuck

Dear Stuck,

You sound like an interesting person, so what are you doing being bored and unstimulated? This situation definitely needs a change in order to suit you better!

Now, a change, as you point out, might be a change within your existing situation, or a complete change of direction.

I hear you asking “How?” How do I figure it out?

I suggest that before you get to the “how”, you pause and take some time to look at the “what”.

I invite you to spend a few days exploring these “what” questions–you could journal about them, keep them on your mind all day long, talk them over with a friend, make some artwork to express your responses, dance out your answers–whatever works best for you. Put those talents and interests to use!

• What excited me about my job in the past? What has changed?
• What in my life excites me now?
• What can I imagine making me head-to-toe-tingling excited? (The sky is the limit!)
• What works about my existing situation?
• What doesn’t work?
• What other directions am I secretly longing to explore?
• What are all the other options along the A to Z spectrum of “stay with my existing situation” through to “change directions completely”? Might there be some options B, C, D, etc.?

If you can spend some solid time really hanging out with those questions, and being open to explore all the answers that come to you, I think you’ll be further along in getting to the “how”. Let me know how it goes!

Warmly,

Laura

Every Thursday, Ask Laura answers a question from readers. Got a question? You can submit it here. 

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