Feeling stuck in a job you hate or suffering through a prolonged job search is painful. So many parts of your life are affected. You worry about finances, your self-esteem erodes, and your relationships suffer. And it’s lonely. It feels like the rest of the world is humming along while you struggle.

You might have noticed I have been focused on the dark side of career transitions lately. It’s because I have so many clients who are grabbing tissues in my office. I’m hearing stories of job searches that have been going on for years, not months. Clients are staying in jobs that are making them miserable, unable to afford to quit, and afraid to make a change.

I thought it might be time to offer a silver lining. During tough career transitions, grit can be manufactured. The tougher it gets, the more determined you become. Consider the possibility that career derailments can make you stronger, wiser, and more aware of your strengths.

Here are a few ways it can work:

• In a long-haul job search, you may ping pong between taking what you can get (settling) or shooting for a future you deeply desire. It’s a slippery slope. If you go after a career that matches your talents and interests, your job search pulls out of its stall. You show up less desperate, your brain starts working, and you are willing to do the networking or get the extra training required to reach your goal.

• If you feel stuck in your job, dreading your work, your boss, your clients, etc. You are growing increasingly burnt out and discouraged. So, where is the grit in this scenario? You start considering options that were previously off the table. You might sell your home, renegotiate college options for your children, or ask a family member for a loan. The story about what you can’t do becomes the story about what you are willing to do.

• Then there’s the explosive option. You get mad. You refuse to accept less than you want and deserve. You fly into action, finding the energy and mental clarity that have been eluding you. You take risks, you ask for help, and you stop accepting your mediocre existence.

I have seen each of the above scenarios play out. You can break out of your career prison if you harness your grit. Your struggle can help you find the courage to move through what you are facing and stop feeling stuck.