Anytime you place yourself out of your comfort zone, is when you truly start to live and experience life for what it is. If you’re having thoughts about leaving your corporate job I suggest you just do it, chances are you’re probably not fully content if you’re thinking your options.
Leaving a job before getting another can be such a stressful decision and finding the courage within to break through that barrier is even harder. Leaving the comfort, the opportunities, the money and the recognition is not an easy task at all but you know that you’re ready to walk when resentment becomes part of the job.
Unsurprisingly, like most of us, I have always wanted to do the responsible thing, which is strength for hard times, thick skin for office politics and job security. I am in the field of Human Resources and that means that in many ways I am responsible for making everyone’s experience at the work place positive and enjoyable. Asking for who would be responsible for mine is a paradox! Nonetheless, I liked my job, my bosses, most of my co-workers and the money. I liked the challenges and liked learning. Deeper still, I believed in the vision.
All this was not enough, each passing day, year after year, I continued to numb my mind and my heart with a work environment that did not fulfill me. At this workplace bullies ruled the roost, there was evident loss of human touch, fixed minds and creeping beauracy but for my age, I had achieved so much, in so little time and I felt indebted. I was your GIRL ON TOP, I loved the hell I was in and earned every promotion.
Ignorance is bliss, or so we are told which is true for my case because up until the quitting point, I had a wild-idea of what I can be, what I can achieve, my value & its price tag. No real rhyme or reason for what great exploits I could do outside this horrid comfort zone.
One morning after a meeting that left me feeling damaged, I admitted that I was vulnerable, felt different and could not do it anymore. Done with trying to figure out who was with me, against me, or walking down the middle because they didn’t have the guts to pick a side, to say no unethical practice and I was done with a career that didn’t bring me peace. I realized that opinions were a dime a dozen, that change is possible, ethics is mandatory and loyalty wasn’t a word but a lifestyle. It was this day that my life changed. Not because of a friend or a job but because I realized that life is way too short to leave the key to your happiness in someone else’s pocket.
Deeply burned by this experience, I put in my resignation letter. The risk of leaving a secure job consumed me like a burning fire but this lasted a few weeks. As I served through the notice period, a giant ball of energy burst outward from my heart and it almost knocked my boss over. I had let my inner voice speak its truth. I did daily visualizations of what I wanted; empowered by myself and took control of my career journey.
‘There are hundreds of paths up the mountain, all leading in the same direction, so it doesn’t matter which path you take. The only one wasting time is the one who runs around and around the mountain, telling everyone that his or her path is wrong.’ — Hindu Proverb
Taking that terrifying leap of faith was one of the most enlightening career experiences I’ve had so far. Call it stupid, impulsive, or brave—at the very least, it was educational. It opened doors that I would never have thought about. I know that each person’s breaking point is different and no one can tell you when you had enough, but when you do and decide to act, you will think “why didn’t I do this sooner?” If you are not the type that will be content with dealing bungling colleagues, average minds, negative office politics and gossip, its time you considered quitting. Be brave enough to find the life you want and courageous enough to build it. Then start over and love yourself the way you were always meant to.
There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.
~ Nelson Mandela
Don’t let your ambition get eroded, dispersed or faded away for guaranteed income. Good enough isn’t good enough for you if it’s not your choice. Do not dare shrink to fit a mindset that does not build your dreams. Be bold, know your worth and charge for it. Put your best self out there and bring your career joy back by choosing who you work for, how you work and what you believe. The power of your Destiny is in the willingness to walk away from mediocrity.
An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward. So when life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means that it’s going to launch you into something great. So just focus, and keep aiming. — Unknown
