Career Uncertainty: A Values Check, Not a Push to Keep Going

The American Psychological Association reported a randomized trial on October 29 involving 164 adults facing work or career difficulties. Participants in a seven-week online group program reported improved well-being, meaning in their professional lives and psychological flexibility compared with a waitlist group. The study did not find significantly greater career engagement—and it did not compare the program with other approaches. (Read the report)

That distinction matters: getting clearer about what matters may help someone choose a different direction, not simply push harder along the current one. A useful first question in a transition might be: What do I want work to make room for in my life? The answer can guide exploration without forcing an immediate, permanent decision.

When a path feels uncertain, what helps you tell the difference between a goal you still value and one you’re continuing mainly out of momentum?