Trying To Decide Whether To Stay Or Walk Away From Your Job

Feeling trapped. Looking at the clock…

Looking at the clock again…

Wondering how people can actually do this for 20+ years of their life. Then thinking—those people are the real heroes… and I’m just the loser who can’t stick to one thing.

Then another thought: I’m a horrible person. Someone else deserves this job more than me.

But I can’t just quit—I’m an adult now. I have bills to pay.

So I start Googling: “How long do you have to stay at a job to not look like a complete flake?”

And then the dread hits… it’s only been 6 months.

Does this sound familiar?

I know this feeling—intimately.

Is it true that this new generation gets blamed for “not sticking it out” at work? Yes, there’s some truth to that. But we also live in different times—faster times. The reality is, if you hire a younger person, their time with you may be limited.

I’ve always admired people who stay in one job—or at least one career—for most of their lives.

But if you’re here, you probably have a nagging suspicion that you won’t be one of those people.

And maybe… that’s something you need to accept.

Because there’s a lesson in staying.

But there’s also a lesson in leaving.

Here are six things that might help you feel a little more free when work feels like a prison:

1. Remember: everything in life is temporary.

Your relationships will change. Your money will come and go. Your body will age. People will enter and leave your life.

Obsessing over how stuck you feel only makes it worse.

Zoom out. Look at the bigger picture.

2. Ask yourself: what is this experience trying to teach me?

“One day, in retrospect, the years of suffering will strike you as the most beautiful.” – Sigmund Freud

Remember your first week at this job? You were curious. Open. Ready to learn.

Then slowly… you started asking, “Why am I here?”

Every job—and every person you meet—is teaching you something.

Sometimes it reveals your weaknesses.

Sometimes it points you toward your purpose.

Ask yourself:

• What skill am I being forced to develop?

• Am I learning how to work with others?

• Am I being challenged in my relationship with authority?

• What am I being asked to overcome?
  

Stay open to the lesson.

3. Imagine quitting today—then map out the consequences.

Grab a pen and paper and ask yourself:

• What would my future look like if I quit today?

• Will my family and friends understand—and does that matter?

• Am I acting from truth or just emotion?

• Am I financially stable?

• What unfinished “inner work” do I still need to do here?

Also ask:

• What have I learned from this job?

• What do I love, like, and hate about it?

• Do I need to update my resume?

• Will I find another job first?

• And if I do—have I actually researched it, or is it just “same crap, different pile”?

Once you’ve written everything out… step away.

Pray. Reflect. Be patient.

The goal is to make a thoughtful decision—not just an emotional one.

4. How do you want to be remembered here?

It sounds like a selfish question—but it isn’t.

It forces you to think about how your actions affect others.

Even if you plan on leaving, your presence still matters.

Instead of staying stuck in your own frustration, ask: How can I help the people around me today?

You might think you’ve already figured everyone out.

But try questioning your assumptions.

A mentor once told me: “It doesn’t matter where you go or what you do—if you leave somewhere, leave it better than you found it.”

So for now, do your best.

Not forever—just for today.

Remember: it’s temporary.

5. You are valuable—but also replaceable.

This idea can feel harsh.

But it’s also freeing.

Maybe you’re in a role that isn’t the right fit—and someone else would thrive in it.

And maybe somewhere else, there’s a role that you are better suited for.

That doesn’t make you less valuable.

It just means your work isn’t finished yet.

6. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

You don’t have to figure this out alone.

When I struggled with my sense of purpose, I sought out a career consultant. It helped me get clarity I couldn’t reach on my own.

And honestly—prayer helped too.

It slows you down. Grounds you. Forces patience.

And sometimes, that pause is exactly what you need.

Final Thoughts

Finding the right work is a lot like finding a life partner.

Some people meet at 18, build a life together, and never look back.

Others take years—filled with mistakes and lessons—before finding something that is a lot more suitable.

If you’re the second type… take heart.

This is a process.

Even when you find something better, it won’t be perfect.

Just like relationships—nothing is.

The goal isn’t perfection.

It’s peace.

Peace in knowing you gave your best.

Peace in knowing you learned something.

Peace in becoming a little wiser with every step. * * *

"The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding."– Proverbs 4:7