The Great Resignation
I’ve heard this current time we are in is being called the Great Resignation as people are leaving their jobs in droves. For every “We are understaffed, pleased be kind” sign, there are two “now hiring” signs. The after affects of COVID are many and we are still in the thick of it….maybe starting to come out of it, but its hard to tell.
COVID’s impact on my life is continuing to unfold, too. One recent and important part of it has been a demand to look at life, what I’m doing, what I want, and re-evaluate so that I’m in alignment with what is important to me. I’ve always placed great importance on my job, my work, even my title. I don’t love this last part, but through the last 18 months of change, it became a truth that I needed and wanted to look at: my worth and value being tied up in what I do for a paycheck. Of course, I would never look at it that way in the moment. No, I have a career and a calling. The work I do is my passion, otherwise I couldn’t do it. It’s hard work and I feel called to do it. But the other side of it is that it is a job. A means to an end. I don’t live to work. I work to live. I’m still working through what it means to not place so much importance on what I do for a living, because the moment it defines me, it controls me. And the last several months have been a time of reflection and wondering if I truly want something that I don’t have a lot of control over to be such a defining element for me. My work could decide to close tomorrow and I’d have to pivot. And I’d rather the basket that job represents to not have all my eggs in it.
I shared from my heart as I let my boss know that no one was more surprised than me to be walking away from a job that is actually incredible. But it’s not for me. People will think I’m crazy, but those people aren’t living my life. I am. And I know that it isn’t actually crazy to turn towards my heart and away from some illusion of happiness and peace. It’s an illusion because I don’t love it. I want to love it. It would be so convenient if I loved it. Incredible pay, great team, supportive boss, flexible schedule, mission driven company. If this doesn’t fit the bill, I don’t know what will.
The very things that make it hard to leave this job are the exact things that confirm it for me. I don’t want to do what seems easiest. I don’t feel compelled to do what everyone else thinks I should do. I don’t care that it looks really good on paper. No. I need it to fill me with joy and make my heart beat faster with delight.
**I am fully aware that I come at this from a place of privilege. I am beyond blessed to have opportunities that I’ve both earned and been really freakin’ lucky to have experienced. Unfortunately sitting in gratitude for how great I have it doesn’t allow me to live my most authentic life. I am extremely grateful. And it is my gratitude that is propelling me to do what I’m doing. Many men and women wish they had the luxury of doing what I’m doing: chasing my dream. And I feel like it’s almost my duty to go for it because I can. I don’t want to look back on this time in my life and regret not taking the opportunity that was right in front of me. Never do I want to say, “I could have done it…but I just stayed right where I was instead.” No one would fault me for staying, except for the most important person in my life: me.
I’ll wrap up my time at my current job early next year and the exit plan couldn’t have worked out more perfectly. My boss was kind and supportive as we discussed how I can support the team while following my heart. I’ll slowly phase out while creating time and space to work on the things I love most. And I couldn’t be happier or more terrified. And frankly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.