CHOICE! Keep in mind at all times that this job is your choice. Sure, there aren’t many alternatives, but the bottom line is, it is your choice to get up in the morning and drag yourself to this particular job. Re-examine why this is your choice. What is this job doing for you, your family, your life?

• Helping you keep up with your bills?
• Providing health care for you and your family?
• Keeping your resume current?
• Connecting you to a network of people?
• Giving you a chance to exercise and/or learn skills?
• Rescuing you from Craig’s List?

Now, take a moment and reflect on this choice and think about how this job may not be the best fit right now, but it is providing for you and appreciate that.

FEED YOUR SELF! I don’t mean a cheeseburger, I mean feed your inner self. So, your dream job isn’t being a business analyst, what is your dream job? An interior designer? Chef? Journalist? Entrepreneur? Forensic Investigator? Web Designer? Lawyer? Doctor? What ever your dream job is, feed that possibility in small ways, for example:

• Robin works for a construction company doing invoicing. Its ok, but not her dream job. She is taking a class for interior design at the local architectural school and loves it!
• Derek works for a bank, but dreams of being a screenwriter. He sets an hour a day aside to work on his screenplay and to seek out avenues for him to get it picked up. “I know I’m a screenwriter, but I appreciate my job at the bank, because I can’t support myself as a screenwriter right now,” he says.
• Laura works for a corporate catering business, but dreams of having her own restaurant. “At lunch, I check out locations that are available, and often go to look at them. I’m also building my menu by experimenting with recipes. So far I’ve got about half my menu created,” she beams.

What inner passion do you have? Think of little baby steps you can take to head in that direction. It doesn’t have to be as time consuming as a class. If your dream is to sail around the world, stop off at your local nautical store and pick up some ropes, a map, or a sailing magazine. Any little step in the direction of your true passion will help you be more satisfied with your “day job.”

LIGHTEN UP! Just like the boiled frog, seriousness can creep up on us. One degree at a time we begin taking things way too seriously. I am guilty of this. This week my computer got a virus and contaminated my internet connection . . .forty five minutes before a webinar! With out boring you with the details, I ended up delivering an hour of a ninty minute session with a participant moving the slides for me. Finally my manager said, “Sharon, its not like you hit someone!” She was right, I was beating myself up way beyond the dead.