Here's a mental exercise: 1) Decide what is the worst that could happen. 2) Assume that it happens. 3) Is it really so bad? 4) How could you recover? Do it for

Here's a mental exercise: 1) Decide what is the worst that could happen. 2) Assume that it happens. 3) Is it really so bad? 4) How could you recover? Do it for both leaving and staying. I was surprised to learn that the worst thing that could happen to me in my job was that I continue to have success, further chaining me to a job for which I have no passion. I have a different situation than you (married with a young child), but answering those questions has encouraged me to make a 2-year plan to get out. Two years because that is when my child will start going to school full-time and my wife will presumably go back to work, providing us with affordable health insurance.