For those who made major life changes unilaterally, how did you know the time was right?

[closeupready]

I've been thinking about making some major changes in my life, and I'm just curious if those of you who have done so can explain what your prior situation was like, how you came to decide you needed to take action, what your plan was, how you knew the time was right and whether or not it worked out well for you, on balance.

Thanks!!! :hi:

[Tuesday Afternoon]

1. when my silk lined rut became frayed around the edges, I knew it was

time to move on. I climbed out and up. Yes, it has been bumpy, but it was the right thing for me to do.

[closeupready]

9. "Frayed around the edges" - yup.

When you start to dread sunny, warm three-day weekends, you know you can't continue like that.

[Brickbat]

2. I generally tell myself that while there are a lot of bad times to make changes like that, it's

almost impossible to tell when a good time or right time for change is. For example, there is never a "good time" to have a baby. There are better times to have a baby, but you'll never be "totally set" to have one. IMO. By keeping that in mind, if you want to make a change (get a new job) and can't find a good reason not to (for example, there aren't any good new jobs), then you might as well try it.

We have made several large changes in our life in the last few years, including moving from the house we thought we'd retire in, me getting and then resigning from a dream job, and Mr. Brickbat abandoning his career path of 20 years to get on a new career path.

All of these decisions worked out, mainly because we are extremely flexible people, and we can make ourselves comfortable in pretty much any situation. Also, both of us are the type of people who do not carry big regrets. If we have any regrets, it's things we wish we had done, rather than regretting things we had actually done.

[closeupready]

5. Inspiring words.

Thank you.

[Brickbat]

8. You're welcome and good luck!

I hope your path is clearly marked.

[closeupready]

10. Thanks- it's not, but I have a good general idea of the way forward.

And a realistic assessment (I hope) of what to expect. :hi:

[supernova]

3. When staying in an unsatisfying present feels worse

to you than any uncertainty about your new plans engenders, it really is time to move on.

[closeupready]

6. I'm not 100% certain, but it seems like I'm there, at this point.

n/t

[seabeyond]

4. knowing the challenge of change is less fearful than the unhappy place you are in

really, when your situation is such that you know regardless of what will be cannot be worse than what is.

then do everything you know, the hard work, to make the change as successful as it can be.

and enjoy, and be FREE

[closeupready]

7. Thank you.

:)

[Sanity Claws]

11. I was so depressed that I had to change

I hated my work so bad that just sitting at my desk made me want to vomit.

I left. I still have not found another career but I couldn't continue doing what I was doing. I wish I had left earlier.

Good luck to you in whatever you decide to do.

[closeupready]

12. Thank you.

:)

[LearnedHand]

13. the time arrived that it was MORE painful

to NOT make a change than to MAKE the change. An example of this is when I left the religious cult I had belonged to. I was scared to death that they were right and I was wrong, but the overallk stupid and the group manipulation was more painful. I wish I were more proactive, or at least less passive about making big changes. However, all the big changes I've made have worked out well, some just because the changed situation was simply my life happening.

[TZ]

14. I knew it was time to get a new job when

I started vomiting every morning before going in to work. It was THAT bad. I quit that job with a month's notice with nothing lined up. However I ended up getting hired for what was at the time my dream job that paid about $10,000 more a year than my old job on the very last day of that month. So overall it worked out well for me.

[MajorChode]

15. When the rabbit died