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Why do I feel so empty and unfulfilled in my profession? How do I overcome this?

Profile: MarkishaNanceLCSW
MarkishaNanceLCSW on Jun 27, 2016
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Unfortuanetly we have taught to use our jobs & professions to complete us. The problem with that is we are often never told to seek out or passions and make that our passion/career. Sometimes there are times in our career that we feel we have reached a learning plateau or feel stagnant in our skill usage. We feel boxed in and often don't feel useful. You have a unique set of skills and talents that far outweigh your present profession and job. Your value is becasue of the person you are and not on the job you have. Use your current feelings to spark an inner investigation on who you are out side of the job. Also, use this time to give some thought to your dreams, passions and desires that bring you the greatest fulfillment and joy. I would be interested in hearing more about your profession. If you feel you need to explore this issue more formally feel free to reach out to me. I am on the therapist list. Be encouraged because things will get better. : )
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Profile: Fairysparks
Fairysparks on Jul 22, 2016
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Find a hobby that matches your souls purpose find out what makes you feel joy ☺ you will find it ☺☺ Then when you do and everything about your vibration is positive because you are happy . That's when the magic happens like attracts like ☺
Profile: Greatlistener87
Greatlistener87 on Jun 23, 2016
Work Stress Expert
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if you feel bored or empty in the profession you are in, that's maybe because your job is not what you love doing its just something you do to meet ends means. Best if you can look for a job that you love and that can support u at the same time.
Profile: AutumnLeigh
AutumnLeigh on Jun 29, 2016
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It is difficult....especially to those who have studied and gotten degrees at University for a job at a certain profession, to feel empty. This is especially true in Psychology and Psychiatry. I've seen many people affect me negatively because of their boredom in a 'Customer Service' area. If you have the gift and are feeling unfulfilled or not serving your purpose, it is wise to give yourself a break! If you cannot do that without negative reaction from employers, I find that venting here....as much as is needed...is truly healing and uplifting. If nothing helps you help others at your profession, I urge people to dig deep into themselves and find what truly attracts them as a profession. Going back to school at an older age is no longer rare and you STILL can feel fulfilled by seeking out other training/degrees and finding your purpose in life!
Profile: SMLHappy
SMLHappy on Sep 6, 2016
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I have had that feeling too. I think most people have moments of stagnation in their professional lives. When I feel like this I think about how I bring value to my role. Not just for the company, but also for those that I touch everyday in my job. However, if you do not feel like your profession is right for you anymore, it may be time to find out what may make you happy. :)
Profile: cruellastar
cruellastar on Jul 10, 2016
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You feel empty and unfulfilled because you don't like your job. You don't have a passion on what you are doing, So, analyze yourself, what do you like to do? Find something you love and do it.
Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Oct 19, 2017
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Whenever I feel empty and unfulfilled in my profession, it may be due to one or more of the following reasons: (1) Burnout. It is hard to sustain enthusiasm for something that I do every day. I am often hard on myself, and this hardness tends to drown out the love I have for my field. Burnout often happens when I take in too much without not enough breaks. When my schedule gets busy, this is hard to do, but now I try to be more aware of what my body is telling me, and my mental state of mind. I try to meditate and stretch before work, which helps, and after a particularly busy cycle, I make a note to reward myself by being lazy and not feeling guilty for being lazy! (2) Politics. This is rather difficult, because politics at work are often things outside of your control. When you are passed over for a promotion or tenure or a job due to your experience, race, sexuality, it can really hurt - especially if that position goes to someone more underqualified and inexperienced. If you don't foster good relations with the "right kind of people" at your work, this too can make things difficult. I would argue that sexism and racism still play a big part in the professional world (and the world in general), which also may cause to stop caring in their profession. When I find myself embroiled in work politics, I journal about it and/or see a therapist to help me. Lately I have been learning from my past experiences and treating work as work, and separating my private life from my work life. It has been helping tremendously. (3) Being a perfectionist. Perhaps this ties into reason (1). I am often very critical of myself, and feel as though I am not delivering my best. This in turn takes a toll on my self-esteem and my love for my profession. I have been more aware of my negative attitude towards myself, and have been trying to be more emotionally removed from my output at work. In other words, I've been learning to concentrate on the task at hand without assigning judgment to it. This is extremely difficult for me and I fail most times, but when I can get into this frame of mind, it works wonders.
Profile: ladycat946
ladycat946 on Jun 22, 2016
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Maybe you are too hard on yourself. Try to write at the end of your day 3 things you did well today.
Profile: Ummi
Ummi on Nov 9, 2016
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When you do not have a profession that you love, you end up feeling empty, lonely and demotivated. It is extremely important to keep looking for something that you will love to do. Don't stop looking and like with all matters of the heart, you will know when you find it
Profile: Junghwa
Junghwa on Jul 28, 2016
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I think I would feel empty and unfulfilled if I have to work at a place for maybe 40 years. That's why I tell myself now that once I see my job as a routine because I'm used to working there, that I will switch jobs. That way my career will never be a boring routine and I'll always be facing new challenges.
Profile: HonestTangerine
HonestTangerine on Jul 30, 2016
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Hi there, First of all, I can understand how difficult it can be to find a fulfilling career. It is certainly an ideal that many of us find difficult to achieve. Ihave found that we can find fulfilment in helping others somehow. Is there a way you can help others or better the planet in your job? If not, I suggest that doing your best, and taking pride in your work can give you SOME fulfilment. If you really dislike your job, maybe it would be worth a look at changing careers as well. Many of us manage a somewhat unfulfilling career by finding something we love to do after hours, like dance, or yoga, or volunteering, gardening, sports, animals. Some of us help fill the emptiness inside also by nurturing a relationship with divinity as we understand it. Wishing you much Love and Success ~ Honest Tangerine
Profile: Vanessaishere
Vanessaishere on Jul 6, 2016
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Think positive about every situation your out in foucs on your main goal which is making yourself happy take some time out to relax and give yourself a break.
Profile: Ballard
Ballard on Jul 20, 2016
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Rather than trying to "overcome* this feeling altogether, it would be wise to wonder what's really leading you to feel like this. Is this not what you wanted after all? Are you feeling unsatisfied in all other parts of your life as well? What could you do to make yourself feel more? Whatever measures you take on your journey of finding what's causing this, just don't try to shove it in the corner. There's no cheating feelings that make you uneasy.
Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Sep 17, 2016
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If you improve your self confidence and also have hope to the future you will overcome this Confidence and hope are main points
Profile: MizzyBebeUniCorn
MizzyBebeUniCorn on Oct 15, 2016
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Tell people how long you've come from working so hard at what you've done. Then you'll feel like you have accomplished something.
Profile: AndyJensen
AndyJensen on Nov 12, 2016
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The answer isn't easy to state. There are times in all people's lives where they feel they aren't accomplishing what they set out to do, or what they always thought they wanted when they grow up. As in all things, situations change. Time changes. People change. It's important to do what makes you feel whole, or more importantly, WORK FOR and PROVIDE for whatever makes you feel whole. True, maybe you're job is a little on a bland side, but who else besides you is counting on that job? Is it really just who? Who else would you let down if you left? Of course, if better, more fulfilling opportunities arise, take them, by all means, but remember that most of us didn't start working just because we wanted to work. We had goals. And the goals can still be the same.
Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Jan 9, 2017
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Sometimes people are not working a position that meets or challenges their potential. Is this the case for you? Maybe it is time to think about advancement it taking on some additional responsibility.
Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Apr 18, 2020
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Open your heart to find what it is you love to do and pursue it with all you have. Each of us has a unique gift to offer our community. We all need to take the time to figure out what our gifts are and contribute. For me, meditation was the key in my life to find my inner Grounding andlisten to what it really that I wanted. I want to help people. I have a personal journey that has led to hell and back and I would like to help others avoid my own pitfalls. I am an accountant today but I am going back to school to get my Masters in counseling.
Profile: AwesomeLibrarian
AwesomeLibrarian on Jun 25, 2016
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It may help to reconnect with why you originally loved your job. Like an old lover, the beginning feelings for a job may fade and have to be spruced up again. If you find that the love is lost between you and your job, this is okay too! It might mean it's time to find a new job that will spark your passion and make you feel alive again.
Profile: KristenHR
KristenHR on Jul 6, 2016
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If I'm not feeling fulfilled, I try to identify why. Maybe it's not my profession at all, but my need or desire to do something meaningful that has nothing to do with my profession, such as a special volunteer job. Using personal self-talk and finding your worth in your profession - what you do good there, what you are good at, the impact you make and so on can be positives for improving fulfillment. Sometimes seeking a career coach could be helpful.
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