Now that we have an idea of how a bad job can affect you negatively, what do we do about it? Let me start by sharing my own personal transformation.
As a mental health counselor, marriage therapist and sex therapist I think I have the most interesting and rewarding job on the planet. I get to help people change their lives. But it’s so much more than that. I get to connect on an intimate level with strangers each and every day. People who I’ve never seen before trust me with the most intimate details of their life. As I work with them, I can literally see their lives improving before my own eyes. At the end of each day, I leave my job happy, satisfied that I have helped people today and made the world just a little bit better. I have used my skills in the best way possible, and have felt challenged. I feel energized- energized to learn more and do more. It’s actually addicting.
But it wasn’t always like this. My first career as a software engineer meant a different Barb. I was always tired, stressed out and unhappy. Little annoyances in life became major battles. I hated Sunday nights worst of all because I would dread going back to work on Monday so much that I would actually feel a little bit of panic. I was drained and my physical health was suffering. I had unhealthy dietary habits and was too tired to work out. I was withdrawing from people, and both my friendships and marriage suffered. I was deteriorating both physically and mentally.
Then one fine day in 2004 my husband asked me what I would like to do with my life, if I could do whatever I wanted. To our mutual amazement, I suddenly rattled off a rather detailed plan. I wanted to quit work, go back to school full-time, and start a private practice. I nearly fell on the floor when my husband agreed. See, he just wanted his happy wife back.
Immediately after quitting my job I began sleeping better. I was more relaxed, and didn’t need to rely on unhealthy consumption as a coping mechanism. I began working out regularly, and had more energy. I started becoming excited about life again. For the first time in my adult life, I felt passionate about something other than shoes. I was being challenged, and I loved it. And my husband felt like he could talk to me again.
Flash forward eight years, and I’m still as passionate and in love with my career. I am still both physically and emotionally healthy. I work way too many hours, but it doesn’t feel that way because I truly love what I do. Time flies by and my biggest aggravation is not having enough hours in the day. So in love with my career, I am, that I decided to go further and am currently working on my doctorate. My career transformation has saved my life.
I’m not telling you to quit your job. I’m not telling you to change your career. I’m sharing my personal experience in the hope of helping you gain insight into your own situation so that you can start making some healthier decisions. See, your current employer doesn’t want you to know ANY of this, because they want to keep you right where you are, trapped in an unhappy job. As long as you are performing, employers generally do not care about your physical or emotional health. I do.
In my next post, I will discuss some next steps you can take right now to improve your situation.
Yours in the Joy of Knowledge,
Barb LoFrisco
Also check:
• https://mastersincounseling.org/education/insider-tips-on-applying-to-schools/
• https://mastersincounseling.org/mental-health-2/what%E2%80%99s-it-really-like-to-be-a-counselor-a-morning-in-the-life-of-an-agency-counselor/
• https://mastersincounseling.org/education/4-reasons-you-should-apply-for-a-counseling-degree-today-2/
