“I hate my job!”  Have you ever said that about your job, or hear someone else say it?  It’s not unique and every day in America millions of workers say it too. Sometimes it’s born out of frustration where things didn’t go as planned, or it could be dealing with unrealistic expectations, or maybe you aren’t being challenged. There are countless reasons why you might say those words. Saying it once or twice doesn’t mean you need a new job, but if you say it regularly, it means something different.

Do you have a case of “Sunday-itis”? That’s the feeling you get at the end of your weekend when you dread going back to work the next day. You don’t sleep well Sunday night, often anxious about what the week will bring. Everyone experiences that feeling from time to time, but are you having it on most Sunday’s? Do you feel trapped in your job, like you don’t have options?

Sometimes we need to take a step back, breath for a moment, and re-evaluate your situation.

Start with your attitude. Sometimes we can get overwhelmed by negative thoughts, they spiral us out of control. Can it change? Absolutely. Your attitude shapes how you look at things, something King Solomon reminded us about.

 Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts. Proverbs 4:23 (GNT)

Ask God to help you clean out the bad thoughts and attitudes and be more positive about your work and the people you work with. Pray for those you where you might be in conflict.  Remember your job is a gift from God.

Next, ask yourself these three important questions about your job.  You’ll note that none of these questions relates to how much money you make, because money isn’t a satisfier.

1. Are you doing what we love to do, work that uses your gifts and skills?
2. Do you enjoy the people you are working with, those on your team or in your department?
3. Do you like the leader you report to, and do they have your best interests at heart?

For each question you answered “no”, ask yourself if it can be improved or fixed? Don’t be a victim, take some ownership of what’s happening and determine what you can do to fix things.  It might require having a difficult conversation with team members or your leader to resolve what’s out of balance.

In the end, if you have concluded things can’t be fixed, then it’s time to start searching for a new job.

Don’t panic and jump at the first opportunity. Finding the right job may take time.

If you like the organization where you work, look internally first. It could be there is an opportunity that will use your gifts, but in a different department. Who says you leave the organization?

If you choose to look at other organizations, start with some networking conversations with people who work where you want to work, or those doing the type of work you want to do. It’s a way to learn whether your gifts are a good match.

And don’t forget to begin confidentially letting your network know you are interested in a new job. Your network can be helpful in keeping their eyes open for you.

I believe God wants us to have joy in our work.  Go and find the job that gives you joy!