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How to Re-Ignite Passion for Your Career.

There are some exceedingly lucky people who absolutely love what they do for a living. They feel passionate and satisfied by their work. In fact, going to work every day is a joyful delight, just like being on vacation every day!

That might have even been your attitude towards your career at one time, but somehow you have been struck down by disillusionment... vague satisfaction... uncertainty... stress... burnout.

Suddenly, you don't pop out of bed quite so perkily in the morning. Your knuckles look oddly whiter as they grip the steering wheel during your commute.

How do you rediscover that happy, vibrant, passionate worker you once were?

Meditate on what drew you into your field to begin with. Reconnect with, for example, the idealistic, bright-eyed young person you were when you first started out: Who were you? What were you hoping for? What was your vision? What was your philosophy?

When exactly, did you first notice your change in attitude towards your job? Was there anything else significant going on at the time? Changes? Personal issues? Look for any patterns that might not be readily apparent.

What, specifically, about YOU has changed: your health, your personal life, your relationships, your family, your hobbies, major upheavals?

Stress from your personal life can, of course, spill over into your professional life (and vice versa). Are there stress-relief techniques you can look into, such as going for a therapeutic massage, or exercising more, or learning to meditate, or even spending more time outdoors?

Consider discussing serious personal issues with a professional counselor. For your work-related concerns, consider locating a personal coach. Personal coaching has become a thriving industry, partly due to the very concerns you're experiencing now. You may very well need a "cheerleader" to help get you back on track. It's also very possible that your feelings of dissatisfaction with your job is indicating a need for change, and a coach may be able to help you determine for sure what it is you want.

What, specifically, about the job has changed: trends in the industry, your immediate job environment, your colleagues, your clients or customers?

Have you advanced into a position where your time is spent pushing papers around, and dealing with dull administrative tasks? Are there tasks that you can delegate? Can you hire an assistant to handle the drudgery, while you deal with the more hands-on work that excited you in the first place? Is it possible to take a leave of absence or sabbatical, so you may recharge your batteries?

Overall, spend some time reflecting on what originally ignited your passions, meditate on life changes that may have dulled your enthusiasm, and take some of these suggestions to heart. Find your passion again, and love your work.

Learn more about this author, Christine Conte.
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