How I lose my passion with a stable $24,000 salary

Last year, my company laid off two-thirds of its employees, not because of financial trouble, but because the market had slowed and my boss wanted to downsize and take it easy. I was lucky to stay, my salary unchanged, my workload lighter than ever.

But that very comfort has left me empty. From being busy and energetic I now have so much free time that it feels unsettling. Every morning, I go to work without excitement. Each day feels identical to the last, the same quiet, repetitive, uneventful days. I feel like I'm standing still, maybe even falling behind the person I used to be.

A woman thinking. Photo by Pexels

I have a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter. My husband works for a government office, so he is rarely home; I handle most of the childcare and housework. We plan to have another baby soon, which makes me think even more carefully about every decision.

Our family expenses exceed VND30 million ($1,140) a month, and we're still renting. Changing jobs now would mean taking on new risks, like probation, sales targets, strict hours, even the chance of losing my job if I can't keep up. As a mother of a small child, the thought of not being able to take a day off when my daughter gets sick already makes me anxious.

So I keep telling myself: "The job is stable, the income is enough, I have time for my family, and that’s good enough." But after more than a year of living with that thought, I’ve realized I’m losing my professional passion.

People often say stability brings happiness. But I think stability without motivation is more frightening than failure. I know I can’t take the same risks I once did, but if I keep letting fear dictate my choices, I will no longer be me.

I don’t yet have a clear answer for the road ahead. Maybe I’ll stay a little longer while preparing carefully. Or maybe I’ll find new ways to grow within my current job. Whatever happens, I just hope I can keep moving forward.

I believe many women are in the same position, torn between stability and growth, between responsibility and ambition. We don’t have to be reckless to prove ourselves, but we shouldn’t let safety turn into stagnation either. Stability matters, but when it costs you your sense of purpose, it becomes a gilded cage.

Should I just be brave, step out of my comfort zone and live a life that feels truly meaningful?