Signs of Compulsively Underearning
In addition to the signs of compulsive debting, underearners exhibit some of the following symptoms:• Resenting low pay or a bad job situation, yet not asking for a raise or changing jobs;
• Feeling inadequate to perform a job well, while secretly feeling superior to others;
• Believing your salary is not important, yet worrying about money constantly;
• Feeling too discouraged to apply for a job ("I won't get it anyway, and if I do, I'll hate it.")
• Having trouble finding resumes or job notices in piles of bills or unopened mail;
• Feeling ashamed of your work history and sick with anxiety over job interviews;
• Stealing from employers because you believe they owe you more than they pay you;
• Spending hours daydreaming but not even minutes working toward your dreams;
• Overcommitting time and energy to volunteer activities;
• Overworking-spending hours to do a job more perfectly than you are getting paid to do;
• Being too fearful of failure to get any more training or attempt a new career;
• Believing no one will pay you for anything you enjoy doing.
If you find that many of these symptoms describe you, then you are probably a compulsive underearner.
Reprinted with permission, from "Compulsive Underearning," Debtors Anonymous General Service Board, Inc. © 2002.