DAY ONE: AFTERNOON (IV) – Janet

Janet: Magnes, I’m in a situation at the moment, and would appreciate your advice on how I might go about working with it.

MAGNES JACK: Ok. Fire away.

Janet: Well. It’s like this. I’m in a well-paid job right now, but it’s not what I want to do, and although I’m good at it, I now realise that. I have found a job that is more akin to what I want, but the money is like half, so it’s means taking a substantial drop. Basically, I am stuck and don’t know how to even evaluate it.

MAGNES JACK: Is it really so hard?

Janet: Not sure what do you mean?

MAGNES JACK: You are seeing two options: stay in your current job and earn good money or leave and enjoy your job but drop your income to half. True? [Janet: Yes] And you would like me to advise in some way? [Janet: Yes] But Janet, I cannot, because this is your decision to make.

All I will say is that there are rarely only two options available. Maybe we stop looking after two! Maybe two is enough.

Also, you are looking at this comparison as if both options were going to last forever. Nothing does, so appreciate that your decision, whatever it is, is probably short-term. Particularly, in these times.

Something else to consider is what is it that you are to get from this new job, that isn’t in your current one? And is this something you can bring in to your current job? Or perhaps you can explore this new aspect some other way, perhaps phase it in?

Then again, you might just decide that you can cope with the drop in salary, and that it will be a welcome incentive to learn to have fun with less.

Janet, there are no easy answers in life; we just make our decision and accept the consequences.
Janet: I thought that perhaps you would suggest looking at what I valued in life, and evaluating the jobs in those terms.

MAGNES JACK: And have you done that?

Janet: Not yet, no.

MAGNES JACK: Janet, you feel a desire for change, and yet that change has consequences. To that extent, you are in the same boat as we are all in. But get creative, because there are many more possibilities out there for sure.

Janet: Ok. Thanks.

MAGNES JACK: No problem. Can I just say here that I know many people come to seminars like this to find answers to certain difficulties in their life and that is fine, but I certainly cannot nor will I make anyone’s decisions for them.

You are all quite remarkable people. You know that I hope.

And as such, there is very little, if anything beyond your capability.

In general, we only are willing to see a small part of our capability, and the rest lies dormant, and I would call on that to waken up, and for you to begin to sense and appreciate your capacity for change and for action. You are truly remarkable people.

Never forget that.