6 stories keeping you stuck in your old job

This is an era of evolution like no other. We are being invited to step into a completely new paradigm both as individuals and as a humanity. If you are feeling the inner call towards something more expansive than what was before, then you know what I’m talking about. In relation to your work, you may also be feeling the desire for something more. You might be wanting to discover the work that is more aligned with who you are, more meaningful and fulfilling, or provides more opportunities to share your gifts. If this rings true, the more you attempt to resist this call, the more frustrated you will become.

At the time in my life when I began to hear my own call to step into a new role, I had all the trappings of a successful career, yet something within myself knew there was much more than what I was living. I wasn’t then able to respond because I was still attached to my old identity and wrapped up in stories of lack and limitation. “It’s not that bad,” I tried to reassure myself. So I toughed it out for two more years – two of the most aggravating years of my professional life. I went through all the mental gymnastics trying to convince myself I was okay where I was, however, my inner being was having none of it. The more I tried to reconcile with the work I was doing, the more despondent I became. I finally became so miserable that the only choices available to me were either to make a change or to let myself lose all desire for living.

That experience was the origin of the concept of “inspired work”. I’ve since come to understand that the feeling of inspiration is our inner being calling us in the direction of our desires and our work is a pathway of our own evolution. Though, I didn’t think of it in those terms then. I just knew I was suffering. The more I tried to deny what was being called through me, the more dispirited I felt. When we attempt to block the life-force energy that wants to create something new through us, we are literally denying life itself. In my story, my resistance became so exhausting that I finally let go and allowed myself to be taken on the journey.

You may already know that your current job is no longer working for you and you want to make a move, but you are still waiting. But waiting for what exactly? For opportunity to knock? For the winning lottery ticket? For a eureka moment? For things in the world to settle? For the right time? There is no right time. There is only now.

Along with “waiting for the right time”, here are six other stories that might be keeping you stuck in your old job (and how to shift them):

Story 1: “I am ‘safer’ if I maintain the status quo.”

Yes, it is uncertain times. Our economy is in chaos. Jobs are disappearing. Inflation is soaring. It is natural to want to protect yourself by hanging onto the job you have, but this is actually the riskiest thing you can do. As we move into the new paradigm, all of the old systems and structures will continue to disappear along with those businesses that were served by them. The safest place to be at this time is in command of your own destiny. If you want “job security”, then you must create work based on who you are now and what is needed for the future.

Story 2: “I should count my blessings.”

With all of the real-world strife, it’s easy to convince yourself that you should just be grateful for what you already have and leave it at that. The tendency is to dismiss those inner feelings of wanting more for your life as being self-indulgent. However, it’s not a “privilege” to step into new opportunities for your work, it’s a responsibility – to yourself and to others. Your inner being knows what is needed in the world and how perfectly designed you are to serve in only the way that you can. You are being asked to bless the world with your gifts in a new way now.

Story 3: “I don’t have anything valuable to offer.”

If this is your story, this is one of the biggest distortions you’ve ever been conditioned to believe about yourself. It is common in our society to equate value with knowledge or influence, but neither of those things are your true value. Your mere existence is what makes you valuable. You were born with your own unique set of innate strengths, gifts, and talents. They are who you are. When you show up in the world exactly as who you are, you are valuable.

Story 4: “I don’t know how I will make money.”

This is one of the most common reasons I hear why people resist exploring new possibilities for their work. It’s also one of the easiest concerns to assuage, it just requires a slight shift in perspective. First, it isn’t your job to “make” money. It already exists. It is your job is to put yourself in a place of being able to receive it. The way you do that is to create something valuable, identify how it meets another’s desire, and offer it to them. In return, you will receive money. The irony is that when you create your own work, there is no limit to your income potential. You could “make” more money than you ever have before.

Story 5: “I’m afraid of …”

Go ahead and fill in the blank with your fear of choice. You might be afraid of failure, judgement, loneliness, poverty, making the wrong decision, etc. These fears are real – and limiting. Your fears keep you rooted in the past. Honour and acknowledge your fears for how they have served you, but now it’s time to open the door and allow the new potentials to reveal themselves to you. Imagine how your life would be if you lived not from your fears, but into your dreams.

Story 6: “I need to know where I’m going before I take the next step.”

You may not yet know what the next evolution of your work looks like, but there is always a next step from where you are. You could explore your options. You could focus& on transforming your limiting beliefs. You could shed your old identify to make space for your new self. You could write a list of all the desires you have for the next evolution of your work. There are so many steps available to you. Just take one. And it will lead you to the next, and the next, and then with some surprise and delight, you will find yourself on a journey to your whole new life.

This time of transformation is helping us dissolve these old stories so that we can grow into a more expanded version of who we are. As we evolve, so must our work. This is the benefit of discovering, creating, and living your inspired work. It is such a true expression of who you are that it grows with you and it also invites you to grow.

I’m not going to pretend that living your inspired work is not without its challenges. In fact, it is probably one of the most testing paths you will ever choose. To get clear on who you are and what you have to offer the world, and to go through the steps of making it real, will require you to confront every limitation you’ve ever devised for yourself. If you want to move forward, you will need to dismantle those inner barriers. Thought it might not sound like fun, in a strange way, it is. The adventure is absolutely worth it.

This sentiment is echoed by beloved author, Paulo Coelho, in the documentary “The Power of the Heart”:

“Give your dream a chance. Follow your heart. I’m not saying you’re not going to suffer. I’m saying you’re not going to regret it.”

All those years ago, I leapt into the unknown to discover my inspired work, and have never looked back. Well, that’s not entirely true. On occasion, I do cast a glance backwards. When I do, what I see is how far I’ve come and how very glad I am that I decided to trust myself enough to make the journey.

If you feel ready to move into a new paradigm and take the next steps in your journey to discovering, creating, and living your inspired work, I am here to support you. Evolution, anyone?