Who else battles through a soul sucking job nearly everyday? What to do?

Question

I know many of us have dealt with this timeless question, but I've still never found that perfect answer...

I'm in my early 30''s, work in finance, and found out within a couple years of entering this field (that I fought so hard to get into) that this type of work is like a trap.

I made the move into finance once I knew I was having my first kid. I needed a stable and good paying career, and for those reasons I entered finance. I work as a bank analyst now, in an office, and I'm good at what I do, even if there's not much enjoyment or satisfaction in it. There's not much room to move up either, and even if there was I don't want to 'change things up' by 'doing a different version of the same kind of 'soul sucking work'. Many know what I mean by this - you need the job for the pay that supports your family with money and health insurance, without it you would struggle. Many don't have a job right now, and I sympathize in my rants, but the issue still remains. The job itself is a lifeless eight to ten hours a day sitting in front of a computer, doing some unsatisfyng work then passing the free time by browsing the internet until you can't take it anymore. Certainly not a bad deal, I know, but doing the same dull, uninspiring, unsatisfying thing every day, over and over and over, leaving you in a semi-worthless state for the few evening hours you have before you've gotta get to bed to do it all over again. It becomes a slow form of psychological torment, dulling and depressing you slowly, one day at a time, so slow you don't even notice it until something snaps you out of it and you stop and think.

Yet, if I quit, it would be hard to get another job in the field. Now is not a good time to try and change careers either, and if I did I would have to take a big paycut because I'd be starting new at something else, and I also worry that what if that something else ultimately leaves me feeling the same way (doing the same thing over and over for 40 hours a week seems like it would end in the same feeling). I'm all for risk and adventure, but with kids to provide for, Its tough to justify taking a chance on gambling our means of support for an increase in my personal happiness in this life. So its like being stuck.

But on the other hand, it's like this: What if you do only get one shot at this life? Or what if you believe in reincarnation, or something, and you had to live through thousands of lives in order to achieve this beautiful existence as a human? One day, you will reach the end of it, and look back on your life. I fear thinking 'This is what you did with it? Spent a majority of your time sitting in a room doing nothing you enjoy, waiting for your days to end, just for some kind of security?'

Thats the part that gets me, too. Waiting for a dull, unrewarding work day to end. Time flies by now that Im in my 30's, and I think sometimes that its even sped up by the fact that many of us are waiting for the workday to end. Waiting for one day to end, then another, seems like we just work into this groove of waiting for it to end - like we are just waiting out our lives instead of experiencing them to the fullest. Thats a scary thought. 

I just saw a guy retire from my office. He did this for like 40 years, now he's very old. I put myself in his shoes, and I'm sure he had a good life, but the thought of doing this for another 30+ years terrifies me. 

Thoughts?

Christian M · Accepted Answer

"most men live lives of quiet desperation' observed Thoreau.  And that has been my experience too.  We are obliged to discover those things that give us joy and then to follow that joy if we are to live our lives fully.  It is utter foolishness to give up life for the things that the masses follow,  security, money, prestige, acceptance, power or whatever.  We came here for the Joy and they we abandon that Joy for all the wrong reasons and so live an empty life.  I have seen it a thousand times over and I am considered a fool for not getting on board that train.

I like what one of my greatest teachers taught me;  "We are all a little bit crazy and we don't know it."  And it behooves us to find out in what way we are and to choose another way.

Namaste'

Anonymous · Answer

I had a similar experience. I had a good office job with a decent career prospect, but I kept noticing the employees around me that were near retirement. Most were unhealthy and unhappy. I followed my dreams and became an Alaska bush pilot. It wasn't easy, it required years of sacrifice but in the end it was worth following my dreams and my intuition.

You won't change if -

1) You don't have the courage to take risks
2) You do not know how to be self-reliant because you lack a broad skill set.
3) You do not trust others
4) You worry too much about what others think of you
5) You do not have a positive attitude and faith that things will work out if you let them
6) You cannot live without most of the trivial things you are attached to. 
7) You do not realize that "stuff" owns and controls us far more than we own and control it. 
8) You are in poor health. Good health is everything. 

Just be sure you know the difference between dreams and fantasy. One cannot be achieved.

Khanindra Talukdar · Answer

My dear, there is no life in any job but it is you who need to put life in it. I know your problem but there is no other go. If possible get the table changed or else no way. Now a days, everywhere you have to sit in front of computers and do the same thing day by day. Hope for the best and look after your kid well. Be happy with what you have. Think those who are waiting for a job outside years and years and not yet. I think you are lucky out of them.

Move on · Answer

Not me, sorry. Out of the 8 or 10 jobs that I have had over my 5 decades, all were incredible one way or another except for one. I stuck that one out for a little over a year and then saw no hope then quit. Life is WAY to short to be stuck in soul sucking jobs. I would tell you what some of my jobs have been but that would really depress you.

doyathinkhesaus · Answer

Thought -- I feel similar to you but I'm sorry I don't have any answers for you, I'm trying to find the answer myself.
I don't think you should be grateful that you have a job. We are forced to have jobs by the society we live in. I hoping that people will wake up and realize we don't have to live like this....
Waiting for the Revolution....

Sowcratees · Answer

Yes, we are lucky to be allowed to live while keeping things running for the rich boys.  My time is almost done, but they are telling me I will live too long and will need to work longer.  I fight to keep my life meaningful, but the grind you describe is very real.  We are lucky in that technology reduces our physical stress, but I think we still feel the anxiety our ancestor's felt when real tigers chased them.  I live for weekends and watch them speed by as if they did not happen.  I am very happy when I am happy, but work just keeps getting worse.  One does not want to burden one's family with silly details, but .......the horror, the horror....

Anonymous · Answer

In the UK the geovernment rake in 65% of the price we pay at the pumps in taxes on fuel. The oil producers have realised that in the UK we will continue to pay high prices - now approaching £1.20 per litre for diesel. I'm hoping to emigrate while I still can afford it.

Zaphod Beeblebrox · Answer

Every chicken must break out of its own shell. Without courage you cannot do it.

Brian · Answer

I haven't read your essay - just the title question!

What do I do?

I am doing it now!  Answering your question - Breaks the monotony :-)

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Who else battles through a soul sucking job nearly everyday? What to do?

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