Change is synonymous with living and working. It may come to you out of the blue and take you by surprise. Other times you know it’s coming, and you have time to prepare.
Yet thinking about a job change, career change, or switching employers even though change may be your choice, it still may feel scary and overwhelming. You may find yourself wondering: should I make the change or not?
To help you out, we put together a list of five questions to determine if a situation is something you should change. These questions are designed to make you feel more in control of your decision. 
They can help you decide which situations you should change, and which aren’t worth your time or effort.
Let’s get started.
1.Will it Give Me Greater Satisfaction?
The first question you have to ask yourself before committing to any type of job change is: will this change give my employment greater meaning? Will it make me feel more satisfied?
To answer that question, you should know what it is you want from working. One way to do that is to create a vision board for the employment side of your life.
You can include your beliefs and your core values. Don’t forget to add those aspirations you had for yourself when you were younger but forgot about when you got older or took a different job path.
Even if some seem too unusual, at least you have a reminder of all the things that bring satisfaction into what you do to make a living. Plus, seeing your hopes in detail will help you focus your energy on what matters.
2. Can it Help Me Reach My Goals?
Now that you know what it is about work that fulfills you, it’s time to look at your career goals. Start by making a list of all the realistic goals you want to achieve. Then, divide them into three categories: short-term, medium, and long-term goals.
The final step is to take action. This may force you to step out of your comfort zone, but if that’s what it takes to make a change for the better, why not? All it takes is a positive attitude, a bit of patience, and a whole lot of self-interest.
Also, remember that your goals themselves may change. So, it’s important to stay flexible, especially when you’re setting new goals.
3. Is This Something I Want?
We’re programmed to try and always please as many people as we can. It can be exhausting. Plus, it takes up a large portion of your day wondering if this person likes what you’re doing or that person is satisfied with your work.
If you’re going to change any work aspect, make sure it’s for you and not to please other people. After all, it’s your situation. No one is going to live it for you.
Another thing you should remember is that the only person you should compare yourself to is you. There’ll always be someone who’s better than you or is more successful or seems to be more satisfied with their situation than you.
The best thing to do is to focus on your progress. Be proud of how much you’ve achieved so far in your career and direct your energy on where you’re going next.
4. Will It Improve My Life?
Maybe you’re thinking of changing your job within your present company or even moving to a different city to take a job offer or explore better opportunities. Change can also come on a smaller scale. You could be thinking of asking for a raise or changing your work shift or changing your days off.
Whatever it is, think about all the ways it can improve the quality of your life. Any type of change you pursue must make your situation easier, less stressful, or more enjoyable.
5. Am I Letting Fear Hold Me Back?
Being afraid is natural, but letting fear control you isn’t. We’re all afraid of failing, of uncertainty, and a whole bunch of other stuff.
Yet, there’s one thing that differentiates successful people; they don’t let their fears control their choices. They learn how to face whatever it is that’s giving those butterflies in their stomachs. Then, they take a deep breath and jump in.
Whether it’s fear of public speaking or fear of a new supervisor, you must build some courage and go through with it, no matter what the outcome is. Once you’re done, you’ll come out the other side a stronger, more experienced individual.
Conclusion
Everyone goes through a wide array of changes over time. You can either join in and embrace all the good that change has to offer, or you can stay behind.
If you choose the latter, you’ll always be standing on the sidelines, always discontent, never fulfilled – always wondering about the path not taken. It was Gail Sheehy who said it best, “If we don’t change, we don’t grow. If we don’t grow, we aren’t really living.”
So, take a deep breath and take the plunge. Who knows? You might even come to enjoy the ride!
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