Hello..26 and stuck...

[Jaxamillian]

Hello. This is my first post on here. I am 26 and feel stuck; like I'm standing still and I don't know what to do. I often feel frustrated with where I am in my life. I haven't had a "real" job, and I've just moved back with my parents with no job on the horizon...

I've graduated with a degree in Psychology, a subject I had a passing interest in and that I thought would be practical. Since that time I've worked in a number of jobs, trying different fields out to see if I could find one where I could make decent money and not hate it.

My latest expedition into the healthcare field has just ended and I've decided against it as a career. It didn't feel right to me, but this is part of my frustration. Nothing has really "felt right" to me so far.

I do know that I love music. I minored in music at university (finishing more than half the major when I just had to do about 1/4 for the minor) because I enjoyed it. I found myself enjoying the things that many majors found boring; theory, ear training- I loved it. I know that music is what I really love, but I also know that it is not really practical in terms of making money/a living. Music means enough to me to hold me back from joining the military or going overseas because I wouldn't have the opportunity to play/write/listen/record as much.

I'm really not sure what I'm asking for here. I don't know if this is a thinly veiled attempt at getting other people to tell me to "pursue my dreams". At the least it's an introduction to me and how I feel right now, and an expression of my frustration. I really don't know what to do...

[bonbonbelle]

This reminds me so much of myself. Writing has always been my "thing." But I live in an area where it isn't economically feasible to major in English comp or creative writing (unless you want to move far, far away to find a job), so when I got to college, I majored in...accounting. I won't lie, it's not the greatest. But I'm doing it to keep myself fed and clothed while I moonlight as a novelist I guess what I'm trying to say is, if you love music enough, you'll find some way to progress even if you have to do other things to stay afloat for awhile.

[Jaxamillian]

Thank you. I think that I'd be fine if I found that "other thing" that would make me money and keep me afloat. That's what causes me stress right now is the uncertainty of knowing what it is/will be, and I feel like I should at least have a foot in the door in something by now.

Thanks for reading.

[Lioness]

A skilled musician CAN make money. Do you play an instrument(s), or sing?

You can freelance, give lessons, vocal coach, join a band, or choral group. Form a duo, trio or quartet and perform live. Street musicians/festival perfomers make money. Some churches pay pay handsomely for a good organist/ pianist, sometimes hire choir members also. If you have a degree, even as a minor, I would think you also qualify for a teaching job. You may have to work 2 or 3 different gigs to make ends meet, but it can be done.

How about music therapy? Or if you're interested in the military, contact a recruiter and find out about military band positions. Or look for studio work. Are you willing to relocate to a music city like Nashville? Explore all possibilities.

[sandy]

{When you don't know what to do, do the thing in front of you. ~Elisabeth Elliot}

Try not think too much, what you can do for right now that can slightly change your situation go do that, start working on something, anything and it will lead you to a road of opportunities that you hadn't expected

If you believe music is making you happy, I suggest go down that road for a while and figure out what you can make out of it, and for god's sake you are only 26, even you are two times older than that number you still shall dare to challenge~

{Few things are fatal, particularly for smart people. ~Tim Ferriss}

[richardxthripp]

For psychology majors, the jobs are in colleges and government, including hospitals and clinics. Many criminals are required to undergo psychological profiling and counseling, so you could find a job there.

[Bluth]

I'm in the same boat as you OP, minus the degree and job history.

[Matthew Cluff]

Jaxamillian,

Please understand that there are SO many people out in the world who go into colleges and universities right after high school. They think that they must get into the post-secondary stuff really quickly so that they'll be able to get a job from it sooner. The unfortunate disaster is that many people don't take the time to really find what they're passionate about before going into university.

Congratulations on pushing through with the Psychology degree. Don't worry about whether or not you'll ever put it to use. You have the knowledge, and if something in the future sparked your desire to go back into it, you have all the things necessary to.

I want you to trust me when I say "follow your passion." If music is what you're passionate about, continue in that direction! Go for it! Just do it!

Originally Posted by Jaxamillian

I know that music is what I really love, but I also know that it is not really practical in terms of making money/a living.

You must delete this belief from yourself, and when you do, replace it with the belief that you can earn plenty of money doing ANYTHING. You just must understand HOW to earn money.

I want to share with you the Law of Compensation. You'll be compensated with money in reflection of these three things:
(1) The need for what you do.
(2) How well you do it.
(3) The difficulty there would be in replacing you.

Points 1 and 3 practically take care of themselves if you take care of number 2. Become REALLY, REALLY good at what you do! Your passion for music -- constantly learn things, become really good at it, and find a source to channel your knowledge through to provide you with an income.

The reason why you're out of a job right now is because your life, by the sounds of it, hasn't had any firm direction. Make a decision to choose going down the path of music. The second you make a decision - WITH ANYTHING - is the moment that you'll have moved in the direction of success. Whatever decision you choose, make it with confidence. Be bold. If you want to follow the path of music (because you're passionate about it), then do everything you can with music; learn as much as you can.

You probably know more now in your life about music than MANY other people do! If you were somehow able to package your knowledge into online products (in the future), you'd have the ability to create a significant source of income -- even if it was only on the side!

The best way to earn money is through multiple sources of income (MSIs). If you were eventually able to create products with your knowledge of and passion for music, you'd have money come flying at you from all different directions that you wouldn't know where it was coming from.

The reason you must follow what you're passionate about it simple. You'll be inspired and motivated all the time to learn more and do better. You won't care how much money you'd be making because you're doing something with your life that you love, and that's what counts! (Don't get me wrong though, you can make plenty of money doing what you love!)

If you have ANY questions at all, regarding how to earn money, decisions, or really anything at all, please feel free to message me. I've been studying success and how to earn money and personal development for some time now, and I really want to be able to help you so that you can turn your life around and live exactly the way you want to live.

To Your Success,
Matthew Cluff

[Bricona]

I'm 23 and I'm so not looking forward to 26.

[ChrisGinsburg]

Don't be so hard on yourself. I'm also 26 and I never expected to have everything figured out by now. I know moving back in with your parents is a societal benchmark for failure. Whether you see it this way or not, it's an opportunity for you to do some serious introspection. In one sense or another I think you are asking people to tell you to follow your dreams. Even if you hadn't said that, I would have. Tell the multi-million dollar musicians that music is not practical for making a living. You are only limited by your beliefs. Just as the woman who lifts the car up off her child, believe and it shall be so.

[lotusseed52]

As others have said, please don't be hard on yourself. Don't compare yourself to others and whatever age they're at.

I do feel jealousness towards you. If I was in your position, I'd look at the stuff I've done and see a combine all the knowledge and create something unique. Maybe create some blog about it?

Perhaps the link below illustrates my point, I love this blog.

Study Hacks Blog Archive The Pre-Med and Ira Glass: Complicated Career Advice from Compelling People

Once you get good at something (your degree) start looking for a niche.

Maybe you can combine your degree with something else!

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above all else, don't have high expectations...... sometimes the greatest thing is right in front of us, yet we're on mindless automatic habit robot to notice it. Even if you did have your dream job, dissatisfaction can easily come in and say "why do I have to keep doing this one thing? I'm so bored, let's move onto something new"

People say "pursue your dreams" yet they don't include all the hard work that you need to even stay within pursing that dream, and not get persuaded to follow another dream. "Practice doesn't make perfect, perfection is practice" or something like that... from someone I forgot...

Reflect back on life, you said you have a passing interest on psychology, was it passing due to you being bored of the material?..

Long post... ha but oh well

Best of luck to you... !