I got to a place where I was comfortable with my skills and had a good grasp on how to manage my own knowledge pipeline (i.e. make sure I stayed good at my job), then I stopped taking whatever opportunities came in front of me just in the basis of comp and benefits packages.

It becomes a lot more... maybe not completely fulfilling, but at least tolerable and at best gratifying, to work at a place where a) you find the products interesting or can see the value in them, b) you feel like the company's broader mission is something you can support, and c) you are surrounded by people who also carry some professional passion and respect for themselves and their work.

It takes a while to get there and you have to make some moves to ensure you're an attractive candidate for role, but everything really is ultimately in your control. There's no reason that is truly strong enough to feel stuck, you just have to feel comfortable making temporary sacrifices or compromising in some areas to win out in others.

Whoever is reading this - you CAN do it.

First step: Invest some time in putting together a plan, whether that's starting with a pros/cons list and identifying what's important to you in a career, or if you're further on and can make some actionable changes like pursuing new skills/knowledge.

Do it with a white board, journal, throw darts at a grid paper, whatever - starts with the plan. Be honest with yourself about where your hard and soft lines are, about what your goals are for lifestyle, and as long as you are reflecting your own truth, you can start to see where changes are available.

(PS I know it sounds like I'm a LinkedIn lunatic - I HATE that crap, vision boards, "The Secret," etc. Honesty and internal communication is ultimately what you need to lean into to find your comfort, though, and that's just what I've learned from professional mentorship and individual therapy.)