I was walking towards my stark, windowless office building like I had done every day for the last eight years. But this time, as I approached, I felt a suffocating weight pushing back against my chest. I literally couldn’t take another step forward. It was like my subconscious was screaming at me not to go in.
I knew the Space Program was going to be intense at times, but the stress I was under every day was horrendous. Everything had to go perfectly. I would be lying in bed at night with a million thoughts racing through my mind. I couldn’t sleep. I had to rely on coffee to make it through the day. My personality was changing. I stopped returning many phone calls and emails. I lost my friends. I started associating more and more with work people instead. Even though I exercised regularly, I felt my health declining. I just couldn’t see it yet, but I was definitely sick. The stress was transforming me.
So I quit.
Know the Reasons Why You Want to Leave…
I found it very helpful to list all of the reasons I wanted to leave. This is what my list looked like: Continue reading