“I hate my job!” Have you ever said that about your job? Has your spouse or a good friend said that to you? Most people say that from time to time about their job. If that statement is a reaction to an event that happened at work, then you’re one of millions of workers in America that has said those words. This reaction is probably born out of frustration where things happened that just didn’t make sense. Chances are good that expectations weren’t met.
If you say it regularly, that’s a different story.
If, at the end of your weekend, you are uttering those words to yourself, you’re feeling anxious about starting your work week, or maybe you don’t sleep well, those aren’t good signs. Do you feel trapped in your job, like you don’t have options? Take a step back, breath for a moment. It’s time to re-evaluate your situation.
First, what’s your attitude like these days? My hunch is not very good. Can it change? Absolutely. And your attitude shapes how you look at things.
King Solomon spoke about attitude in Proverbs 4:23 (GNT), Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts. Remember, your job is a gift from God. Ask God the same thing that King David said in Psalm 51, Create in me a clean heart. Ask God to help you clean out the bad and be more positive. Think positive thoughts about your job and the people you work with. Pray for those you where you might be in conflict.
Next, ask yourself these three important questions to see what’s out of balance for you in your job. Note that none of these questions relates to how much money you make because money isn’t a satisfier.
- Are you doing what you love to do, work that uses your gifts and skills?
- Do you enjoy the people you are working with, those on your team or in your department?
- Do you like your boss and does your boss have your best interests at heart?
For those questions you answered “no” to, 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. Many things can be fixed in our jobs and where we work. Sometimes it might be a different job within the same organization or having a difficult conversation with team members or your boss to resolve what’s out of balance. I believe things for you can get better.
If you have a lot of “no” answers to these questions and you work to fix them and have conclude things can’t be fixed, then it’s time to start searching for a new job. I believe God wants us to have joy in our work. Go and find the job that gives you joy!
