For this inaugural posting in my “Pitfalls and Roadblocks” section, I’m focusing upon the phenomenon known as “survivor’s guilt.” This term has been coined to describe the guilt experienced by employees who survive a round of layoffs. While I have friends who have been the victims of recent layoffs, my survivor’s guilt is of a broader nature.
My survivor’s guilt is based upon the fact that, in the midst of a global recession, when many people are unemployed or otherwise struggling to make ends meet, I find myself dissatisfied with my current circumstances – i.e. full-time, relatively lucrative employment. I sometimes find myself thinking, “Am I being ungrateful? I have what many would consider to be a great job, but it just doesn’t seem to be enough for me. Why can’t I be satisfied with what I have?”
After long reflection, I’ve begun to recognize this type of thinking as the roadblock on the road to success that it is. In the end, we are all in business for ourselves. It is each individual’s responsibility to work to achieve their life purpose in the most fulfilling way possible. We should not feel guilty for seeking to better ourselves and our circumstances – regardless of the circumstances in which others find themselves.
It is not outside the realm of possibility that I could be the next layoff victim at my employer. If the cost-benefit analysis leads them to conclude that my position is better filled by a lower-cost offshore resource, then I could easily be shown the door. If that were to happen tomorrow, my wife and I would be in a great deal of financial difficulty. My responsibility, therefore, is to work to make the most of my potential – both in the context of my current position and in pursuit of my ideal employment situation. I don’t quite know what that ideal situation is right now, but I know that I have no need to apologize for pursuing it. Neither do you!
Until next time… Still seeking success,
Mike
