How to create the career of your choice!

So you were hired for your dream job (or so you thought). Only now, you’ve realized that it’s not what you expected it to be. Maybe you were a bit idealistic about the industry and thought the work would be more meaningful than it actually is. Or maybe the working environment doesn’t play to your strengths—you prefer independent work when everything’s based around teams, or there are just too many rules to follow. Now you feel let down and restless, and you’re wondering whether your expectations were just too high.

So, what’s the deal? Do you suck it up and feel miserable for the rest of your life? Or do you do what most people suggest—figure out what career would better suit you and apply for it?

Believe it or not, there is a middle ground. Before you run from a difficult job as a flight response, let’s figure out if things just needs a little personality-proofing so you can create the mental space you need to enjoy your career again.

Accept the Things You Cannot Change

First up, a reality check. While it’s easy to blame the job, the career, the industry, the company, your overbearing boss, your whining, passive-aggressive co-workers or the rabid advancement of capitalism for your job woes, the truth is usually more mundane. Chances are, you’re unhappy in your job because you’re unsure about what exactly you need to feel satisfied.

So, while you could try to shift the blame on things that are outside your control, it’s better to examine the things you can change. We all have more control over our happiness than we realize—and even small actions can make a massive difference.

Courage to Change the Things You Can

Even if the job is not a perfect fit, surely everything is not terrible, or how did you wind up in that job in the first place? It’s a great cosmic joke that complaining about something makes you more miserable and ineffectual. So it might be a smart move to spend less time griping about your job, or worrying about a career change, and start making a list of the things you love about your current job—and the things you hate. No panicking. No hair-tearing. Just a calm look at the pressure points and the opportunity to get honest about your situation.

Now, the list will be different for everyone, and I’m not here to tell you why you’re unhappy because I don’t know your exact situation But there are some areas where most introverts struggle, and most perceivers struggle and so on, and you can learn from those common experiences to get clear on why your job is crushing your soul.

The following are just a few ideas to help you craft your job so it works better for your personality.

Introverts

Things that can make you miserable: