Breaking the Cycle of Career Dissatisfaction: From Blind Turns to Purposeful Choices
There’s a phenomenon many of us experience but rarely stop to examine. Let’s call it the “Urgent Optimism & Blind Turns” phenomenon. It’s that moment of restlessness we feel when we’re dissatisfied with our work—hoping that the next move will finally bring the fulfillment we crave, but often making hasty decisions that land us in the same cycle of frustration.
The Pattern We Know All Too Well
How many times have you heard (or even said), “I’m just here until I find something better,” or “I’m trying to pivot to something new”? Beneath these words lies a deeper struggle: we are working, but feel disconnected, hoping the next career step will be the one that bridges the gap between our true selves and the professional lives we inhabit.
This is the “urgent optimism” at play - the belief that our next move will solve the friction between who we are and the work we do. But urgent optimism often leads to “blind turns,” those reactive decisions driven by external blame: a toxic manager, a stifling work environment, insufficient pay, or uninspiring tasks. We think, “If I just change this one factor, everything will fall into place.”
The Problem with Blind Turns
Imagine being stranded on an island with a tsunami looming on the horizon. Your first instinct is to flee, hoping the next island will be safer. But even if you escape the wave, you might find the new island just as inhospitable or worse.
This is what happens when we let fear or dissatisfaction drive our decisions. When a curveball comes our way, our brains go into overdrive, prioritizing survival over clarity. Instead of stepping back to analyze the situation, we cede control to our subconscious, which scrambles for a quick fix based on the stories we’ve told ourselves: what we think we’re good at, what we aspire to be, and what we believe others expect of us.
The result? Another blind turn. And the cycle repeats.
Breaking the Cycle
The good news? You can break free from this pattern. It starts with two key realizations:
The threat you feel is often exaggerated.
The disconnect is as much internal as external.
Step 1: Question the “Threat”
The next time you feel the urge to make a hasty career move, pause and ask yourself: Is this a real, immediate threat to my well-being? More often than not, what feels like a crisis is a perceived threat - either societal (what will people think?) or monetary (will I run out of money?).
The societal threat is largely an illusion, and even financial concerns are often more manageable than we fear. By reframing your relationship with money—not as something to accumulate, but as a reflection of the value you provide—you can ease the sense of urgency and buy yourself time to think clearly. This pause is critical. It calms your stress response system and creates space for deliberate decision-making.
Step 2: Turn the Lens Inward
Once you’ve paused, the real work begins. Think of it like a game of Lego. When a piece doesn’t fit where you thought it would, what do you do? You don’t throw it away. You examine it, figure out why it doesn’t fit, and look for a place where it belongs.
In the same way, reflect on your current situation:
What were you expecting from your work that you didn’t get?
Which part of your identity feels misaligned—your values, your strengths, or the story you tell about yourself?
Is the mismatch about the work itself, the environment, or the way you approach it?
This introspection helps you understand what truly needs to change. Sometimes, the answer isn’t a new job, but a new perspective on your current one. Other times, it’s a recalibration of your expectations or goals.
The Hardest Part and the Most Rewarding
The most challenging step is defining the parts of your identity against which you’ll evaluate your career. This is a deeply personal process, and it evolves over time. Who you are today is not who you were five years ago, nor who you will be five years from now. But by committing to this inner work, you’ll build a foundation for purposeful choices choices that align with your values and aspirations, rather than reactive fixes.