Can I change my life?

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2009
Can I change my life?
6
Sun, 12-06-2009 - 4:35pm

I've been contemplating some different areas of my life lately, and I'm wondering if making changes might bring me some peace. There are two parts of my life that I am absolutely disgusted with: my job and where I live. If I can change these two aspects, can I feel happier?

I do not like my job at all. I work for a family friend, and recently received a "promotion" (in quotes because I honestly feel it was a move to work me more without having to pay me more). Obviously, with the job market the way it is right now, I can't really do anything. Additionally, I feel like I owe my boss for the "promotion". I'm wondering if I can give it a year. Is that long enough to feel redeemed and then move on?

I feel like finding a new job would solve my second problem of not liking where I live. I believe the area I live in does not match the type of person I am or want to be. If I can find a new job in the city I want to live in, I can move and start over.

When I start to think about these things, my self-doubt kicks in. What if I can't find another job? What if I'm destined to be stuck in this dead-end job for the rest of my life? What if my depression and anxiety cause me to fail at trying to change my life?

I guess I'm writing this to gather opinions. Has anyone ever changed aspects of their life that they were unhappy with and felt better about life in general?

I blog all about it:
31 Million Seconds
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-04-1999
Sun, 12-06-2009 - 5:38pm

I guess the biggest change I ever made was when I found the job I have now, I moved 3 hrs from the town I grew up in, down here all by myself, so that was scary but first job out of college and one can't be too picky.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-06-2009
Sun, 12-06-2009 - 6:56pm

Yes, I do think that you should work at least one year in the job you have now, unless something really fabulous comes along.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2009
Sun, 12-06-2009 - 10:02pm

Thank you for the advice Josie and Deb.

Deb, I have actually been at my current job for 6 years, so I'm not concerned about employment length on my resume. What I am concerned about is what Josie brought up. What if I'm incapable of changing my life? That's what it feels like so many times. That's what I'm really worried about.

I blog all about it:
31 Million Seconds
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-04-1999
Mon, 12-07-2009 - 5:26am

HI, I don't think anyone is ever "incapable of changing their life".

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-06-2009
Mon, 12-07-2009 - 12:19pm

criostiona - I don't think that anyone is capable of changing everything, but I do believe you can change some things.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2009
Tue, 12-15-2009 - 11:17pm
Thank you for the replies. In the end, I think I was looking for an easy fix. I was hoping that by just changing certain aspects of my life that I don't like, I could beat my depression. I'm beginning to accept that I can't just ignore my depression and anxiety and it will go away. I need help. For right now, I'm telling myself that January is the month I finally get the help I need. I don't want to chicken out again.
I blog all about it:
31 Million Seconds