Clinging to a Job You Hate

Clinging to a Job You Hate

Ever wondered what it takes to stop clinging to a job that’s slowly draining the life out of you? This Inner Bonding episode with Dr. Margaret Paul looks closely at why so many people stay stuck in work that exhausts them, deadens their spirit, and can even make them ill. Rather than offering flippant advice like “just quit and follow your bliss”, Dr. Margaret talks about the tension between genuine responsibility and harsh self-abandonment.

She explains how the ego-wounded self is “addicted to control” and “fears uncertainty more than suffering”, convincing you that security matters more than aliveness. You’ll hear common inner messages such as “you’re too old to change” or “it’s selfish to want more”, and how these beliefs quietly keep you trapped. The episode introduces the Inner Bonding concept of the Loving Adult and the inner child.

Your inner child feels the impact of forcing yourself to stay in soul-deadening work, which can show up as fatigue, depression, anxiety, addictions, and a sense of inner deadness. Dr. Margaret contrasts short-term sacrifice for a larger vision with long-term inner betrayal that says, “I don’t matter. My feelings don’t matter.

My soul doesn’t matter.” She shares practical starting points: listening inward, noticing what actually makes you feel alive, remembering what you loved as a child, and taking small, loving actions such as a class, a conversation, or reducing debt to create options. Drawing on Susan Jeffers’ idea to “feel the fear and do it anyway”, Dr. Margaret frames courage as acting lovingly even while afraid, rather than waiting for fear to disappear.

If you’re stuck in work that crushes your spirit, this episode offers a gentle yet direct invitation to stop normalising chronic self-abandonment and begin building a life where responsibility and aliveness can coexist. What small loving action could you take today towards work that supports your soul?