7 times when giving up on a work goal is the healthiest decision

7 times when giving up on a work goal is the healthiest decision7 times when giving up on a work goal is the healthiest decisionThe idea that we should work towardsa specific career goalis drilled into our heads starting at a young age, when peoplestart asking uswhat we want to be when we grow up. Our aims usually evolve - otherwise there would be far more astronauts and ballerinas - but the idea ofworking towards a goal(or five) is a constant in most of our lives.But heres the thing about ansicht goals Theyre not all realistic, worthwhile, or healthy. They may not even be your own, but rather something youthoughtyou had to work toward. All of this is to say that whilesome goals are wonderful and zu gunsten vonductive, others simply arent worth it, and once we let them go, we realize that wereactually much happier without them. This could meanbeing less stressedbecause youre no longer trying to fit a square peg in a round hole, happier because you have more free time topursue thing s that really matterto you, or more successfulbeing on a pathyou truly believe in.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreWe asked the Thrive Community to share thecareer goals- big or small - they have given up that have ultimately benefited them. Here are some of our favoritesBeing in total control of everythingOne thing I had to give up to get when I wanted to be as a business owner welches total control. Ive finally started to outsource some of my work and its given me the mental space to focus on building my business to the next level. Onwards and upwards- Wendy Y., copywriter, Manchester, U.K.Wearing one hatHaving a variety of interests, early in my career, well-meaning friends and colleagues would tell me that I should narrow in Choose one thing and get really good at it. Ive tried wearing one hat, but always find myself taking on other projects - paid, or pro bono - to keep my creativity fresh. I have given up the idea of being one thing.- Stephanie Thoma, networking strategist, San Francisco, CAAligning your identity with past work accomplishmentsQuitting work to stay home with my kids was easy. Giving up talking about my career was not. I was terrified that I wouldnt stay relevant and that I would be dismissed as a stay-at-home mom. It took me years to (mostly) stop bringing up my past accomplishments in conversation, but it was worth it. I enjoyed meaningful exchanges, discovered a softer side of myself and became more comfortable showing up anywhere as who I am, without tying my value into what I do.- Karen Gurwitz, author, New York, NYTaking a job solely for the salaryA career goal I had given up is taking jobs solely based on salary. Ive had numerous jobs over the years, where the salaries have varied. I have learned that if you are not fully enjoying what you do, serving others with passion and inspiration, then the money is not worth it. When we take a job solely for the money, we are slaves to the wage. Oddly, when I had given this up a job came along that offered freedom, creativity, and surprisingly wealth.- Tricia Wolanin, Ph.D., clinical psychologist, Mildenhall, U.K.Sticking to a set pathI moved to Asheville, NC to begin a career in the mental health industry, thinking I wanted to become a therapist. After two years, although I learned so much about myself both personally and professionally, I knew this was not the path for me. Now, I am shifting my focus to larger-scale social work and hopefully one day public policy. My dream is to work at the forefront of social and environmental justice. It is intimidating to move in a new direction but everything feels in better alignment and my anxiety is way down- Allison Hackman, social service professional and ESL teacher, Philadelphia, PALofty sales goalsIve let go of trying to constantly exceed sales goals and instead have focused on just taking care of the client in fro nt of me. I think when we come from a place of service instead of sales, its a win-win. When we do whats right for the client with compassion and empathy for their needs (not ours), it benefits the client and ultimately helps our bottom line as well. Acting from our hearts will always result in a better outcome.- Camille Sacco, bank manager and certified meditation instructor, Winter Park, FLHiding in the security of the knownIn my late 20s, I was in an interview. I dont remember the interviewers name or company that she worked for, but I do remember one simple statement that she made. She said, If you want to do this the rest of your life I have no recollection of what she said after that. I instantly knew that I didnt want to do that the rest of my life. I walked out of the interview and it was like a 500 lbs. weight had been lifted. I enrolled in graduate school five days later - changing the trajectory of my career. Acknowledging my gut and cognitively responding has been one o f the biggest assets in my career. Sometimes, you just have to walk away from the security of the known to the possibilities of the unknown.- Kristin Sajadi, social awareness entrepreneur, Lexington, KYThis article originally appeared on Thrive Global.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people