Avoiding the Career Crisis Cycle

If you're spending your life in the rat race, there will be times when the lack of fulfillment reaches a “crisis” point. For example, feeling depressed or stressed... Or, if you are faced with a significant life challenge, the emotional strain will feel like a crisis.

For some people, a crisis will trigger some soul searching and personal growth and they'll start living more consciously. For others, the desire to “escape” or move away from the crisis, rather than towards something (such as true purpose and meaning) can mean sliding back into the rat race.

And this unconscious crazy crisis cycle can continue throughout one's life as challenges inevitably arise and the desire to escape them is the primary response...

And I've been there! For example, when I realised I was completely miserable in my corporate job, I reached a crisis point - even though I was "successful" I was completely depressed... wondering "what's the point?" I wanted out. I wanted to escape the horrible feeling.

So I opened a bar! This might be a great idea for some people, if it is congruent with their values. But for me, it wasn't moving me any closer to living my purpose. In fact, I didn't drink alcohol and when people came in I encouraged them to drink water while I asked them about their life and provided free coaching over the bar! I had escaped my crisis, but I was back in the rat race, working very hard, but for obvious reasons (obvious now) not succeeding! With a serious values conflict, a new crisis was inevitable.

So... I learned a valuable lesson. It is vitally important to move TOWARDS what is congruent with your purpose and values, rather than just looking for an escape plan from an unhappy situation.