Your job is important as it pays your bills. But if you are not making what you feel you are worth, your job is holding you back in more ways then one. First, you're not earning the money you should be, but also you are being under-valued which hurts self-confidence and cause extra stress. This will keep you from doing other things that are good for you.

For instance, say you had a bad day and spend your commute home griping at yourself for staying there when your boss doesn't appreciate you. Then you get home and you're in a bad mood and instead of looking forward to a dinner with your spouse/family, you grumble a lot and everyone wishes you weren't there - creating more stress.

Before we go any further, let's be clear about the amount of money you are making. That doesn't mean just your take home pay. It includes your gross income, what gets paid into your retirement fund, health insurance(hefty benefit) and career experience. A pros and cons list should always be made. It could be that you are feeling undervalued because you aren't looking at the whole value of your current employment.

But if you truly aren't making what you are worth, there are three things you can do about it:

1. Nothing.
2. Talk to your current employer and see if you can make more money.
3. Find another job.

Lets take number 2 first. Talking to your employer is a viable option and one that should be taken before you look for other employment. Set up an appointment and discuss ways you feel you are an asset to the company and how much more you feel you should be making in terms of pay. Be ready to negotiate and compromise. If you don't feel you have gotten what you've needed, move on to option number three: find another job. This isn't as hard or as drastic as you may believe. Update your resume and start sending it out while keeping your current employment.

The one thing you do not want to do, and most people do it, is do nothing. It may seem easy to continue to do nothing and just keep feeling undervalued, but it is taking its toll. You can do better, try option number two and go for it!