[paulcole]

> How did you keep learning and progressing professionally when your day job wasn't pushing you?

In my experience the people who keep learning and progressing professionally when their day job isn't pushing them are intrinsically motivated and simply do this on their own. They find things to learn and they find ways to progress professionally. They identify skills they lack and get them. They have ideas and follow them through.

I think you have to figure out whether you are one of those people right now or not. It's fine to not be (you can always change in the future) but at least you can stop worrying about it.