Once you realize that you always have a choice, you can then begin to dive a bit deeper with this concept and explore the reason behind your choices. I find this quite fascinating, hopefully you will too!

There is always a reason behind every choice that we are currently making (and have ever made).

I once worked with a client and coached her around her job dissatisfaction. She told me that she was miserable in her job. That she hated the work. She didn't like the company and nor the people that she worked with.

“So what do you like about the job?” I asked curiously. “Nothing. Absolutely nothing! I hate all of it!” was her emphatic reply.

“It sounds like you are miserable. So...why are you still working there?” I asked with even more curiosity.

She pondered for awhile and then replied, “I’ve been working for this company for the last 10 years...I just don’t know what else to do...I guess I’m just used to being miserable.”

“And why are you choosing to be miserable?” I probed. “I’m not choosing to be miserable, the job is making me miserable!” Came the quick reply.

We were getting to the heart of the matter, so I asked, “Ok, why are you choosing to continue to work at a job that is making you miserable?”

The big ah-ha...The flash of lightning...The great epiphany.

“Oh crap...I’m actually choosing this and continuing to choose this because I don’t know anything different!”

The truth began to rear its ugly head. Misery had become the norm — the status quo. A job change would mean heading into the unknown. And the unknown is usually seen as scary.

Like my client, we so often choose misery because we do not know what non-misery would be like!

Is there something in your life that you are tolerating? Some misery that you are putting up with?

Hint: There is. There always is.

Why are you continuing to choose to be miserable? Figure that out and you’ll be ready to start making some positive changes in your life. Leave it to fester and you’ll contract a debilitating disease called Regret.