Yes, it's true. I consider myself to be some who was able to "escape professional misery!" I had professional jobs that paid really well, but I wasn't happy. Before I was able to make the leap to work I love, there were a few things I had to figure out. And so will you...

Know what you want! Become proactive - don't just leap at whatever opportunity comes along. Make a list of exactly what you loved in every job you ever had. Trust that you already know exactly what you want and then find ways to let it come to the surface: journal, create a collage; collect quotes -- do anything that allows your true "wants" to come to the surface.

Know what you don't want! Go ahead - make a list. Everything that you ever disliked about any job -- anything that makes your life harder, not easier. It's time to abandon all those "shoulds!"

Know your values! What's more important than anything else in the world for you? Family, fun, expertise, wisdom, helping...

Know your strengths! If it's easy for you, you can bet it's hard for someone else. You were born with incredible talents - go ahead and admit it, and decide to use them to make money.

Know where you are in the process! Do you know what you want, but aren't sure how to do it? Do you have an inkling, but can't seem to tie it into anything tangible? Are you clueless? Once you know where you are, it's just a matter of locating the resources to take you a step closer.

Get support! Barbara Sher (author of Wishcraft) says that isolation is the real dreamkiller. Don't try to live life as a lone ranger -- find a coach, a consultant, or create a success team. Get some momentum and see what happens.

Get financially stable! Money can be the number one excuse -if you can't support yourself, you'll just drain energy away...energy that you could be using to find your perfect work.

Get honest! Admit there's something wonderful out there waiting for you to recognize it. What scares you about it? What makes you excited about it? How do you need to change to make it happen?

Make room for a change! Would your life be chaotic if you found work you love? Would the laundry keep piling up, would your home look like a refugee zone, would you ever eat a healthy meal? Get these distractions on automatic pilot so you can spend your time in creating bliss.

Start having fun, NOW! If you're miserable in your job, chances are the rest of your life isn't much fun either. Make a list of 3-10 things that you know you have fun doing, and then schedule some time to do at least one this week.

When I was a little girl growing up, my religion taught me that certain people have callings. Specifically, they were "called" to the religious life. As an adult, I believe we all have callings and can hear them if we just listen. Here are the signs that I believe point to the truth that we all have a calling...

1. We are all born with specific gifts. Our gifts are unique and help make us the individuals that we are. They must serve some kind of purpose, right?
2. We are all born with specific interests. The world is a diverse place with too many wonderful things to explore and learn. We have to make choices about where we will invest our time and energy - and it's easier to do because we have distinct interests.
3. We are all born with specific preferences. I don't know about you, but I've had jobs that I absolutely hated and still knew people who loved doing that very same job. Nothing else explains it better than the fact that we each have unique preferences.
4. Some people really, really love their work. And I bet you know a few of them. They're the folks who never complain about what they are doing. They just know they're in the right field and they happily go about their daily work without thinking about it much.
5. Some people seem "born" to do certain work. These are the people that are naturally good at what they're doing. Often they seem to do their work effortlessly and are able to tap into their intuition to do their job at an even higher level than seems possible.
6. Many people successfully "create" their own jobs. If they weren't called to do it, how would they make something appear out of nowhere?
7. The world of work is so vast. There are so many options, it must be because each of us is a complex arrangement of talents, interests, preferences and knowledge.
8. If religious people are "called" - why wouldn't the rest of us be? It doesn't make sense that it would be only the religious life that people would be called to serve.
9. Almost everyone wishes, at some point, for work with "meaning." Since this is a universal theme, it points directly to the existence of an appropriate path for each one of us.
10. Some people love their work, while others, in the exact same occupation, are completely miserable. Enough said!

Changing jobs can often be an uncomfortable transition. With a few intentional actions, you can make it much easier on yourself.

1. Work from a vision of what you want for yourself. When you know what you're working to create, it's easier to appreciate the victories and keep the setbacks in perspective.
2. Keep taking action - learn not to be afraid of being wrong. Eventually, most action involves risk. If you're afraid of the risk, you won't take the action and your search will stall. No one expects you to know everything, so why not throw caution to the wind an be open to exploring possibilities.
3. Exercise and eat right. Limit your intake of alcohol. Well, it's just a medical fact that what we eat effects how we feel and that exercise helps increase the happiness-generating chemicals in our body. Alcohol is a depressant and it also negatively affects memory.
4. Ignore the news. The media likes to focus on what's wrong with the world instead of what's right. It's too easy to get caught up in a negative cycle of other people's pain and suffering when you watch the news. The world will keep spinning even if you don't know all the terrible things that are happening.
5. Decide on a theme song or slogan. Remember Ally McBeal? The characters on this classic TV show knew the power of changing your mood through music. You can instantly transport yourself to feeling great simply by humming a fun song. Make sure it's personally motivating!
6. Get advice from people who love their work. Hang out with people who are where you want to be. You'll be pulled forward by their standards. You'll also be inspired to believe that you can have life just as good.
7. Make a list of the achievements that make you proud. Whether your crowning achievement was an eighth grade speech contest or a multi-million dollar business deal, you've accomplished great things and thinking about them will stir up your pride.
8. Keep a joy journal. It really is the little things in life that make us happiest. Make a special effort to notice what brings you joy and record it on a daily basis. Any time you need a lift, you can revisit the list.
9. Read or listen to inspirational material. Inspirational writers and speakers are some of the highest paid people in the world for a good reason. They know how to bring out the best in others. Let them do their job for you!
10. Visit your spiritual center. It helps to remember that most of what happens to us on a daily basis is relatively insignificant. Knowing your spiritual philosophy allows you to keep events in perspective.

Working for yourself can be the most rewarding and fulfilling experience you've ever imagined. It can also be the most frustrating and disappointing! Before you make the leap to working for yourself, here are a few questions to answer...

1. Do I have a passion for the work? When times get really rough, being able to say that you love what you do can go a very long way.
2. Do I have a vision for my future? Thomas Leonard once said that when you have a clear and compelling vision, you don't need motivation. Take the time to capture the vision you see for yourself. Click here to read another article about capturing your unique vision.
3. Do I know what I value? Your values are always operating at a fundamental level in your decision-making. When you don't feel you can honor your values, you might find yourself struggling to make anything work.
4. Do I know what motivates me to succeed? The best forms of motivation are positive such as expressing your values, playing to your strengths or honoring your vision. Negative motivators (fear of failure, avoiding consequences or getting a need met) can work for a while, but you'll ultimately pay a big price if you are fueling yourself with negative energy for too long.
5. Do I know what to do with the money I have? The old adage says that most businesses fail in the first five years because they are underfunded. That may be true, but it's also possible that they just don't know how to wisely spend the money they do have.
6. Do I have a reserve of time? Overwhelm is a typical companion for the new business owner. Try to clear your schedule to the bare minimum of commitments so that you can stay on top of what matters to you.
7. Do I have a support system? Behind every great entrepreneur is a team of people who believes in her and what she's trying to accomplish.
8. Do I know the basics of running a small business? Yes, you really, really, really, really do need to know the basics of finances and marketing. Look into the offerings at your local community college, the Small Business Administration and SCORE (service corps of retired executives.)
9. Am I running toward something or away from something? As was mentioned earlier, it's always best to be operating from a vision of what you'd like to create - not just escaping from something that isn't working.
10. How will I know I'm successful? It's not just about money (although money is important.) What else matters to you -- creative expression, making a difference, trying something new...