I'll be the first to admit that I hated my job. It took many years for me to come to this realization since I kept accepting promotions in the hopes that the awful ache inside of my chest would go away. This ache was not a medical condition ? it was me longing to have a career where I could be happy.

I tried to ignore these feelings but instead, the ache became more intense. I expressed to my friends that I was unhappy with my job as a pharmaceutical representative and they told me that I was crazy for wanting to leave such a well-paying job. I became frustrated because I realized that I was going to have to figure this one out on my own.

Now, I am in a career that I love. Ironically, I dedicate my life to assisting others find their dream job. Here are a few tidbits that I teach my clients.

Consider journaling. In journaling, you are able to express your pent up frustrations that you may be feeling about your clients, co-workers or the organization for whom you work. You can also find hidden passions, desires and talents. The best way to journaling is to ask yourself a series of questions. For example, "How did I end up in a profession that I dislike?" and "What is keeping me in my job?"

Too often, people end up in a career that they dislike because they heard that it paid well or perhaps their parents encouraged them to pursue a financially "safe" occupation such as accounting, law or medicine. In other cases, individuals decided to follow the same profession as their parents. Some people say that they have too much debt or a lifestyle to maintain while others say that they just simply rely on their steady paycheck.

Another question for you to you ponder is, "If I had one year to live and I could have any job, what would I do?" Many times, we already know the answer to this question. However, we tend to ignore our passions and dreams because we put limitations on ourselves. We think things like, "I won't get paid as much" or "It will take me forever to begin my own business."

After you have discovered your deepest dreams, make a list of the resources and skills that you must possess in order to perform your new job and create an action plan. Recognize that individuals only need to commit one hour, everyday. This one hour will give you the strength to keep the occupation that you hate while you work towards attaining a career that you love.

Theresa Castro is career coach, author and speaker. She has her baccalaureate and MBA from University of Texas. Castro is the author of the critically-acclaimed book THE DARK BEFORE THE DAWN: 70 Secrets to Self-Discovery, in which she outlines the simple steps to self-discovery and happiness used by Americans nationwide to improve their relationships, renew career fulfillment, balance personal and professional life, and ultimately enhance overall health and happiness. For more information, visit www.TheresaCastro.com