“Instead of wondering when our next vacation is we should set up a life we don’t need to escape from.” ~Seth Godin
I was a senior human resources professional at the biggest company in New Zealand. I had a great team of people, a flash company car, and got to stay at the posh hotels and dine at the nicest restaurants.
I was paid more than I thought I’d ever earn, I had a house overlooking the beach, and got to vacation at some fantastic destinations. My life had all the hallmarks of success from the outside, but inside there was a hole in my soul.
I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I left school (or even a decade after), but I was taught what success looked like—a high salary, job security, a fancy title, and the higher up the ladder you went, the better. But my experience didn’t really fit this model.
I’d had a feeling for some time that the corporate world wasn’t for me.
In the morning I struggled to put on my work shoes and dress for the office, preferring to be bare foot on the beach in my shorts.
I hated being stuck inside. Some days I’d never get to go outside my office. It just didn’t seem like me, but it paid well and every time I got promoted people would tell me how great it was.
Eventually I had enough of climbing the ladder, pretending to be important, checking emails at 10pm, attending back-to-back meetings, commuting in city traffic jams, and sitting for hours in front of a computer screen, my phone constantly going.
I would sit in meetings talking about strategies and adding value while looking outside, daydreaming of where I’d rather be.
I was exhausted, unhappy, and I kept getting sick. It wasn’t so much the stressful job that tired me; the really exhausting part was pretending to be something I wasn’t, committing to things that didn’t matter to me, and selling out on my values and purpose.
The further I climbed, the more I earned, and the more successful people told me I was, the unhappier I became. I had a full bank account but an empty soul. I thought there must be more to life than that.
When I told people I did not find my job fulfilling, they looked at me like I had two heads.
“Why would you expect it to be? It pays the bills; that’s its purpose. There isn’t anymore.”
For a moment I thought maybe I wasn’t being grateful. I was lost in the cycle of wanting more; perhaps I was looking for greener grass? There was only one way to find out, so I took the leap, quit my job, and walked away.
Many people thought I was brave for making the decision to leave such a good job without any qualification to do anything else and no other job to go to. Many more thought I was crazy.
But I’m not the only one. Lots of people are now choosing to put their health and quality of life before work and seeking balance. We are beginning to wake up to the fact that it’s important to live our values and spend our days doing things that matter to us.
Of course, you don’t always have to quit your job to achieve this. There are those who are happy in their work and love what they do, and if that’s you, I salute you.
For those yet to find that, don’t panic. Think about what you’re good at, what makes you tick, and what you enjoy the most and begin to bring those changes into your life.
We can all feel trapped in our day jobs, whether it be for the perks, the status, the career progression, or just the need to pay the bills. These are all forms of security, and it’s one of the reasons we spend so long in jobs we can’t bear.
There is a natural fear of the unknown, a new job, having to retrain, the need to pay the bills.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Whether it’s updating your resume, meeting with recruitment agents, looking at home study courses, budgeting your finances, or sitting down and setting some goals, the key is to make a start.
Taking a risk into the unknown is scary but also liberating. We are motivated and excited by change, but at the same time it can send us running back to the things we know. It’s all too easy to find excuses to put off making a change and stay where it feels safe.
We perceive security in our pay checks and the things familiar to us, even if they don’t make us happy, but as Einstein said, “Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results.”
I did this for years. Every time I was forced into a change of job I would tell people, “I might try something different this time and do something I really enjoy,” but the call of the familiar pulled me back to the corporate world (not to mention the money I needed to pay the rent and the fact that I wasn’t qualified to do anything else).
I used to spend my days looking forward to long weekends and vacations. Now I have a life I feel I don’t need to vacate from.
When I left the corporate world I spent my new found freedom learning to be a yoga teacher, living in Ashrams, and undertaking meditation retreats. I can now put that knowledge and my passion into what I do every day.
I feel like I help and inspire people, although it’s not all butterflies and rainbows; I earn less, have to get up earlier, and sometimes I don’t know when or where the next job is coming from. But my work is part of my life now rather than an inconvenient interruption to it.
It keeps me fit and healthy, I get to travel and meet like minded people, and for the first time I feel there’s a purpose and reason to what I do, and it’s a wholesome one.
I firmly believe in the mantra “Do what you love and love what you do and you will be successful.” I always wanted a job you could turn up for in yoga pants and a hoodie and the best of all, you don’t have to wear shoes!
Happy man image via Shutterstock
About Jess Stuart
After a successful career in the corporate HR world Jess decided to follow her passion in Health and Wellness as a coach, speaker, and author. A qualified yoga instructor who has trained in Buddhist meditation and mindfulness, living and working in many countries Jess draws her life experience into her work to share the principles of health and happiness.
Though I run this site, it is not mine. It's ours. It's not about me. It's about us. Your stories and your wisdom are just as meaningful as mine. 
“My work is part of my life. . .” thats a mantra every person should be taught from first grade. And now you are sharing it in your teaching and around the world. This is how we create a new world by living our lives with purpose and sharing that joy with all we meet.
my god Jess – I practically could have written the first half of that myself (with my own personal idiosyncrasies of course). it is so hard (and to most outsiders STUPID) to leave the security of an unbelievable salary, status, etc. I commend you for having the courage to take that first step – I hover my toe over the water every couple of weeks but i have yet to take the leap that you did. thanks for the great post.
Good for you! What an amazing story. It takes guts to ditch the trapping of the corporate world. Good on you for freeing your soul from the cage of corporate!
Jess reading this made me very happy. I am glad you followed your heart. Money doesn’t replace our well-being.
I’ve had similar thoughts about the corporate world, and I finally left my financially lucrative 13-year consulting career at the end of May, a decision I’ve saved for and contemplated for quite some time. I am taking the rest of the year for myself, to figure out a different plan for my life. At less than 2 weeks into this new adventure, I feel a combination of excitement, exhilaration, and yes, some guilt and fear too. Thank you for sharing a little bit of your story. It’s so motivating and inspiring to read that there are alternatives to living a life in golden handcuffs.
Jess thank you for an insight into your life, we too have similar thoughts and passions you have. We spent Christmas and the New Years in New Zealand and understand why you where looking out of the window.
Small steps every day, build up over time to an amazing adventure – we love having adventures and a great life and hope to share it with others
Take care
Glen
You are so right. I think the “dream life” looks different for everyone, and the “American dream” really isn’t a dream at all for a lot of us. Two years ago, I left the teaching job I’d had for 10 years, signed my house back to the bank, and moved my family 1300 miles away to live on a sailboat. We’ve never been happier!
Bethany
Jess what an inspirational story. My wake up call wasn’t my career because I’m not working but mine was in my marriage (of 28years). It took me a while to realize I had been living for my husband’s happiness and life and not mine. My heart ached because of the emptiness and loneliness I felt. I did not want to settle living like that any longer. And I know I had a choice to stay for financial security or take a chance and live for me. So I made a major decision to move on from my marriage.The feeling I gave myself of hope and a future filled with my passion and purpose is so amazing and so wonderful!
Good for you Jess for listening to your heart because that’s what I did.
Well done for having the courage to follow your heart, best wishes for your new found freedom. Jess
Very well said
We all have our own dreams but not always thd courage to follow them. Congratulations on creating a life you love, wishing you continued happiness
Sounds great. You’re so right, small steps and life is one big adventure!
I remember those feelings well. Congratulations on liberating yourself, your whole life is ahead of you. Often we have to lose what doesn’t fulfill us to make room for what does and that’ll become aparent as you continue your journey. How exciting, follow your dreams!
Very true
Thanks for the feedback Tanya
Thanks for the feedback, good luck on your journey
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I do live a life I don’t need to escape from. I just need moments of escape.
Wow, you’re my hero! I’m seriously considering a similar move so that I can spend some time with my daughter and figure out what’s next–but I’m scared!
I have enough money to live on for a while, but what if it runs out and I haven’t figured out what’s next?? I’m grappling with that now–that and health insurance plans.
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I am operating with the mentality of “leap and the net will appear,” though definitely have some of those fears myself – what if the net doesn’t appear? Ultimately, I’ve decided to keep the faith in the former. It’s definitely scary, and a risk – but I realized that, for me in my current circumstances, it is even scarier to stay the course on my current career path, wondering what could have been. Best of luck to you, Sarah!
Wow, not sure how I ran into this article, but it is very timely! I just quit my corporate job yesterday to go into self-employment in the construction industry. I have no idea what the future looks like for me (I’m 26 with not a lot saved), but I am excited for this new adventure. Thank you for the encouraging article – I guess I’m not crazy after all!
Not crazy but brave, well done and best of luck for the future, sounds exciting!
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Amazingly inspiration story… It seems to me that most of the people who make these types of moves, have some sort of financial stability to hold them over.. Im a bit different.27, sociology degree working a basic customer service job at a pretty nice company. came back from vaca monday..was dreading going back….and havent yet.// told them i was having some issues and they have allowed me time until tomorrow to return…i just dont want too and dont think i can. i have nothing really saved and dont know where to go from here. with all the death and misfortune around me….i just dont want to waste any more of my life on pointless and passionless work. i feel as if im wasting away..when i tell my friends and fam..are u crazy..u have nothing to fall back on…what about your bills, etc…im like what about my soul? what about “this life” i claim to be living….its a horrible spot to be in… and i just dont know. I appreciate them working with me ,but i dont think i can even force myself to go back//something has got to change.
Very inspiring, I wish more people could move past their fears and pursue a life that makes them happier.
My only issue with these kinds of stories, of which there are so, so many all over the Internet today, is this: not everyone can be a yoga teacher. Or travel the world writing and surfing. Or be motivational speakers or professional meditators or whatever. There are still demand for jobs that aren’t very fulfilling. Jobs that are nearly impossible to love.
It’s great that you found a purpose, that you are happy, I’m all for that, but it doesn’t really deal with the fact that there are millions of people that have to do these jobs that you abandoned, and they have to find happiness in their situations, rather than just abandoning everything to live in the woods.
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Thanks Leanne and well done for following your dreams and overcoming your illness you sound like a strong lady. All the best with your study.
I know how that feels and there’s light at the end of the tunnel. We all feel a certain amount of security in our jobs, particularly financial. Yes we need to pay our bills, yes we need to live a happy life too and it’s possible to do both. Think about what you want and how you might get there and then take it one step at a time. Having a plan is the light at the end of the tunnel. My journey wasn’t overnight but small steps each day. Good luck!
Wow Jess. You are a living inspiration to people who want to follow their heart but let fear stop them.
“Keep telling your story. Keep making a difference. ”
I have a friend who feels that he may value meaningful stuff more than the supposedly balanced and secure corporate life. But he is still making up his mind. I wonder what you’d like to tell him.
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You are very brave Jess. Or maybe you were foolish, but got lucky (says my fear). I’ve ached to get out of the corporate world into something more rewarding for a number of years now. I have job which pays really well, and on top of that I get to work from home too, so at least don’t have the ties of commuting and have great flexibility of time to have a really good family life where I get to take my son to school in the morning and being around to eat with everyone in the evening. I’m really lucky to have this setup and many people would like to be in my position, but the work . . . although it’s probably a critical part of the important need which my company serves . . . it’s just not me, and it’s stealing my soul. And it’s not like I know what I’d like to do instead, so if I just quit, without even a plan, well the money would run out within a year or two and I might be none the wiser at the end of it. Or end up having to take another soul sucking job to survive, perhaps for less money and with a commute attached for good measure.
This statement when viewed in the right context, is totally off the mark. Vacation is worth wondering about. Vacations are good. Vacations are what we had as children and we looked forward to them. Vacation is not the enemy.
A bad job is the enemy.
A soul-destroying job, that’s the enemy.
A job where the only goal is to double the revenues, double the clients, double the stress—that’s the enemy.
If you set up a wonderful life, you’ll have a career you’ll love. And you’ll love your vacations as well. Work alone is not life. It’s part of life. But so many people struggle in bad, soul-destroying jobs that they see this Seth Godin statement as correct.
It’s hopelessly off the mark. Work has its place and so does vacation. Work is part of our lives, not our entire lives. And just like we dreamed of vacation in school, we “should” dream of vacation at work. I love my work. I’ve never had to “work too many days in my life”. But I love my vacation just as much. If someone says they love their work more than their vacation, then there’s something amiss.
Seriously amiss.
Sean
This is true, but you can still find and do fulfilling things outside of work.
We aren’t JUST our jobs