The career path you choose is one of the most important decisions you make in life. After all, most of your waking hours each year are spent at work! If you struggle to find happiness in your current line of work, you may be experiencing a temporary lack of motivation that will quickly disappear. Or it may be a signal that it’s time for a change.



A career choice is more than just paying the bills and putting food on the table. You deserve to spend your days doing work you enjoy and your career should align with your values and goals. You owe it to yourself, your children and those you are meant to serve, to find the courage to change your career direction!



Take Your Time: A career change is an opportunity to think carefully about your values and determine what matters most to you. This takes time. Be patient and give yourself permission to take the time you need to determine what’s most important to you in your career.



Ask Questions: Take the time to reflect on your values and what’s really important to you. Why did you choose your career in the first place? What did you like about this line of work? Have those elements of your job disappeared through changes that have taken place, or have you simply forgotten what drew you to this line of work in the first place? Is it really time to throw in the towel or do you need to refuel you passion?



What do you wish you were doing instead? Is there a job within your current company that can better utilize your talents in a more interesting position? Seek advice from your employer on opportunities that exist within your company to learn new skills or transfer to a more interesting position.



Take Small Steps: Take baby steps towards the life you crave. While it may seem right to run away from your current career as fast as you can, a hurried approach may backfire. If you are not careful you may find your self with the same disatisfaction in your new job. Take small steps and evaluate how each step makes you feel, what each step draw you closer to or pulls you away from. If you take the time to think through your decisions and make the best decision possible, you’ll experience greater joy and fulfillment in the long run.



Chase your big dreams by breaking them down into small, manageable action steps. Seek the advice of others who are already successful in the line of work you’re seeking to enter into. Structure your goals in a way that allows you to attain regular feedback on your progress, so you know when you’re on track and when you’re off course.



Respect Your Current Employer: When it’s time to leave, do so gracefully. As you move closer and closer to the career change you seek, continue to perform your current job to the best of your ability. You may need your current employer as a reference, and an attitude of service will increase your self-confidence as you prepare for a dramatic change in your life. And no matter how bad you feel you are treated, refrain from lowering your performance and attitude. Maintaing an attitude of excellence will keep your self-esteem and your reputation in tact.



Believe in Yourself: Trust your instincts and your ability to succeed. You can achieve any goal that you set out to accomplish. With proper planning and a hunger to succeed, you’ll experience the career success you crave. Keep your dreams in front of you, believe you can achieve them, and begin today to take the first steps toward the career you are destined to enjoy.



Remember, fulfilling your profressional destiny is not just about you. Having the courage to pursue work you are passionate about sets an example for your children. It also fulfils the needs of those who are wainting for what you have to offer.