 Black and white
Nothing is so black and white Steve.
People's lives and situations are unique to them. For some to say "I quit" tomorrow could be the best decision of their lives. For others it could be the worst. You need to be in a good place either financially or emotionally to do such a thing (preferably both).
You recommend taking 'handouts' as an alternative. If this isn't friends or family then it's the State. Here in the UK the State benefits rarely cover the full cost of ordinary bills - often they don't cover the full cost of rent. Along with that you are literally hounded to get another job as fast as possible to continue to get benefits. The merest hint that you aren't actively looking for work means your benefits can be suspended - no benefits means no heat, no light, no food and in the worst case scenario - no home. Certainly not the best space to be in when you are throwing yourself into your new career - whatever that may be.
I've been in a situation about 20 years ago where myself and a friend where scrabbling under a vending machine for enough dropped pennies to get 10p together to get enough to call a friend and ask him to bring us some food. That's how desperate we were. The last thing on my mind at that time was whether I was going to write a song - it was simply "how am I going to eat tomorrow". So I really do know what it's like to experience real poverty.
All that said, I can now live on much less than the majority of my age group does. I don't have any particular drive to buy lots of material goods so being very poor taught me the value of money in that respect.
Whilst I completely understand your sentiment and cheer on those who are in position to just quit, I also strongly suggest that people think before they act. Whilst someone can feel immediate relief from depression/anxiety because of hating their job - the enormity of new problems can send them on a spiral downwards and then they can't cope with what needs to be done - been there, done that.
When it comes down to it we all have to do what's best for us at the right time. I don't want to wait to quit my job before I start doing what I love so I do both.
My sense is that you come from the perspective of the law of attraction. My belief is with this that unconciously held strong beliefs can over-ride any positive thoughts you are actively thinking. I think it's more important to work on these first.
Lastly, I used to do spiritual work and to this day can trust my dreams more than anything else. They have always guided me with Truth - even when I didn't like the truth! My dreams showed me my business was failing and I would not survive if I didn't get a job. I was vehemently against getting a job and hadn't held a proper full-time job for over 10 years. My spiritual teachers took me on a journey in my dreams and showed me how I could change my perspective to aid this process and help me to see that I wasn't selling out or giving in. They showed me I would gain something important from it.
The first week of work I cried every night I came home, I hated it so much but I knew it had to be done and I had to trust my guides. And I'm glad I did!
I feel more free now than I was when I had every hour of every day.
I believe there will come a time in the future when I am ready to take the leap again but only when I am ready emotionally. Whilst it's not an experience I really wanted, it was one I needed - for whatever reason.
In Peaceful Disagreement
Lily x
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