Last Thursday I made a very impromptu visit to my former office. It had been close to a year since my last visit which was just a couple of months after I quit rather quietly. I use the term quietly because, while I had mulled over the decision for over 3 years, the actual resignation felt like an anti-climax.
I didn’t get a huge send off and that felt like a big deal to me after over a decade of service. My job was actually advertised during my notice period. You can imagine an email popping up with your job title on it and you are seated right at your desk feeling completely unappreciated.
Ironically that was pretty much the same reason why I quit. I felt that the company did not adequately value my expertise nor appreciate my performance.
A lot of people could not fathom why I would leave a really nice job (seemingly) with a pretty cushy remuneration simply because of demotivation. More so because I was quitting to go and stay at home.
As I contemplated upon my choices, I noticed many of my colleagues, especially women, in a similar conundrum. Most of them felt overworked, unappreciated, and demotivated. They were simply going through the motions at work.
Yet they carried on with a facade of satisfaction and didn’t even bother to complain when aggrieved. In their own words, their opinions no longer mattered and they had simply learnt how to live with it. In my quest to fit into the corporate world, I had inadvertently become one of them.
To change or not to change?
My inner voices however would give me no rest and despite seemingly “having it all” I was living a miserable life. Literally. Fighting a battle with my inner self took a toll on me and my physical body was taking the brunt of it.
I finally chose sanity and realized that I had to change something since clearly, no one else would do it for me.
So I did the only thing that made sense to me.
I left.
It wasn’t a magical wand solution though. For the first six months after I quit, I see-sawed back and forth, agonizing whether I had made the right decision. Interestingly, those I left behind all envied my courage and wished they had the guts to do the same. Yet despite their misery, they had no intentions of doing anything to change their situations.
In retrospect, it was my self-awareness that kept me going. I always had an idea of what I wanted to do with my life. Keeping my focus on this idea really helped, especially during the tough times. I also had a good support system and accountability partner which really helped me stay on track and move forward.
Change is never easy, even when you chose it…
During my visit last week, it was shocking to realize that some of my former colleagues are still exactly where I left them. Still disconsolate and believing that there is nothing they can do to change their circumstances.
Looking around our country and in the current economic situation it would be foolhardy to leave a well-paying job. As a result, a lot of people feel trapped in circumstances that they feel are beyond their control.
The one thing I have learnt in the past one year, is that you always have some modicum of control over your situation. Sometimes all you need is a nudge to see your situation differently especially if you have been in it for very long.
Change doesn’t look the same for everyone. Some will change jobs. Others will go into business. And yet others will try to find fulfillment by doing their current job in a different manner. Alternatively, a change like taking up a hobby during your free time or even taking up that course that you have always wanted to do might make all the difference.
The critical thing is to actually make a change. As scary as it may seem at first, once you take the plunge, it’s actually pretty awesome.
Are you ready for change?
If you are feeling overwhelmed by your circumstances and feel like you have no idea where to start, there’s no shame in seeking external perspective. At Biashara 360, we believe that every day is made to be enjoyed to the fullest – whether at work, in business or whatever your situation may be.
If you feel like you are just going through the motions of life and stuck on how to change this, you can request for a clarity coaching session from one of our coaches. During this session you will be able to get clear on what you would like to change, identify the obstacles that are in your way, and map a new way forward.
As a bonus, we are offering the session at a special 50% discount. Hurry though, there are only 10 sessions available at this rate each month! Remember, if you want something in your life to change, you need to do something different. Sign up today!
(Images courtesy of Unsplash)
