6 Reasons We Hold Back From Pursuing Our Dream Job/Career

Posted on July 21, 2021 by Jen Trumm, One of Thousands of Career Coaches on Noomii.

In my over 20 year career in Human Resources, I can’t tell you how many times I have seen people who have come to realize their job or career will not lead them towards living the life of their dreams but continue to stay in their dead-end job for years, if not decades. A 2019 survey from OnePoll found that close to 60% of us feel regret around not pursuing that dream job or career! This article outlines six reasons why I see people hold back from taking the leap, along with some tips to consider if you (or someone you know) can relate to this dilemma.

1) Fear – Perhaps most debilitating reason we hold back from pursuing our dream career comes down to our fears. Fears of failure, rejection, success even. It’s unfortunate how much I have personally missed out on in my life when letting my fears get the best of me. Sarah Blakely, the CEO of Spanx, has said that her father would encourage her and her siblings to come home each day and share something they tried and failed that day. The failures were both encouraged and celebrated. If you’re like me and tend to get stuck in your head about all the stuff that “could” happen, a good way to start building greater resiliency around our fears is practice. Try something new every day. Start small at first, it will take a minute to build this muscle but eventually, you will begin to realize that the pride you feel when you accomplish that “thing” far outweighs the initial fear that may have tried to hold you back.

2) Overwhelm – I think we can all relate to having so many things on our plate that our brains actually begin to shut down. Just when we need it the most, it turns to Jello! So, if you’re like me and struggle with overwhelm when the to-do list begins to pile up, I’d like to share a tip that has helped me increase my focus and calm the anxiety: mindfulness. Becoming more conscious and intentional about my thoughts has been a game changer in my life. Meditation is an excellent way to build this habit and something that I try to do daily. Additionally, Mel Robbins (writer of “The 5 Second Rule”) describes mindfulness this way: let’s say you’re building a brick house. Rather than spending your time and energy focusing on the finished house, your goal should be to spend most of your time focused on the one brick that is right in front of you.

3) Show me the Money! – Question for you: does your dream job or career include financial abundance? Will it not only provide you work you love but also a quality of life that you have always dreamed of? If the answers to these questions are yes, which I hope that they are, then worrying about money may be pointless. Now, don’t get me wrong, you want to make sure you can cover your essential bills and expenses. But, if the choice is between short-term financial discomfort versus long-term career and life fulfillment, I challenge you to think outside-the-box on how you may be able to break through this money barrier.

4) Education – If the idea of going back to school causes you to breakout in hives, you’re not alone! But, in my time recruiting over the years, I believe there is a high misconception on the jobs that actually do require higher education and those that don’t. Yes, you will need to go to medical school if you’re dream is to become a doctor – sorry, no way around that. But, for MANY other jobs, it’s not the education on your resume that I focus on in my hiring decisions, it’s who you are on the inside; the personality traits that make someone stand out such as integrity, motivation, compassion, vulnerability. Highlight these traits in your cover letter, resume and interviews and just watch your marketability as a job candidate soar!

5) Timing in Life – Depending on where you are in your life, making the leap towards your dream job may not be realistic right now. A stay-at-home mom who has a desire to be the primary caregiver until the kiddos get older cannot also simultaneously pursue a new career. Additionally, if your dream would involve uprooting school age children, that could also be a deal breaker – at least for now. But that shouldn’t mean you should give up either. Keep your vision tucked safety away for later – your temporary circumstances are not permanent and therefore, your dream job should still be given a fighting chance! While we are on the topic of timing, I have heard many times in my career people who hesitate to make a career change because they feel “that ship has sailed”. Here’s the thing my friend, it truly doesn’t matter if you’re in your 30’s, 40’s or 50’s – it is NEVER too late to start becoming more intentional in the direction you want to go in your life.

6) Desire to Remain Comfortable – I believe our desire to do what is comfortable and easy is a huge factor is what is holding us back from having more joy and fulfillment in our lives. Our brains are literally wired for comfort! Your brain will naturally want to take the easy path whenever possible. So, indulge me for a moment and picture yourself actually doing work that gives you purpose and joy. How does it look? Feel? There’s no doubt about it, stepping outside of your comfort zone will be uncomfortable at times but I don’t know about you, as I venture into the best years of my life, I am ready to consciously choose a little short-term discomfort on my journey towards living a life with greater abundance, passion and happiness. Choose courage over comfort!

If you’re not in your dream job/career, what’s holding you back?