#47: Grateful and Dissatisfied Can Co-exist

You can be grateful—and still feel dissatisfied.

In this episode of Stepping Into The Arena, Karen unpacks a powerful phrase shared by her mentor: “You can be grateful and dissatisfied.” At first glance, those emotions may seem contradictory, but they often show up together at pivotal career moments.

Karen shares her personal experience of having a successful job, a fulfilling personal life, and yet feeling something wasn’t right. That subtle dissatisfaction was a signal—one she followed more than once, leaving high-level roles (even CEO) to pursue something bigger.

If you’ve ever felt conflicted by your desire for more while also recognizing how fortunate you are, this conversation will give you clarity and courage.

5 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

1. Gratitude doesn’t mean you have to stay. You can be thankful for your job, your team, and your life—and still know it’s time for change.
2. Dissatisfaction is often the first signal. Karen noticed a pattern in her career: every few years, a quiet feeling would emerge, pushing her toward growth.
3. Acting on dissatisfaction leads to expansion. Each time Karen made a bold move—whether it was a job switch or moving to southern France—life got better.
4. Guilt is part of the process. Leaving “good” roles brought emotional weight, especially as the main earner. But staying would have led to boredom and resentment.
5. Trust your intuition. Even when timing isn’t ideal or others question your decision, that inner pull is worth listening to.

"It is 100% okay to feel grateful and dissatisfied." – Karen Gombault

This episode is a reminder that your next chapter may begin with a subtle nudge—not a crisis. And acting on that feeling could lead to more satisfaction than you imagined.

RESOURCES & NEXT STEPS:

Set up a call to explore working together: https://calendly.com/kareng-coaching/introduction

Free Resource: Build Your Visibility At Work → https://www.karengombault.com/getnoticed

1:1 Executive Coaching – Explore private coaching options: https://www.karengombault.com/workwithme

Connect with Karen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karengombault/