How to follow my passion?

[zetta]

Hi, I'm currently trying to become a trainer to become a life coach later on. A year ago I earned my bachelor degree in computer science, but I stopped working in this field after a few month of freelance work. I lost my interest in programming more and more after examining my values and searching for my purpose.

I'm pretty sure about what I want to do now. So I don't mind creating a "bad" entry in my resume (unemployment). I overcame the fear of screwing up my good looking path as a software developer.

I want to complete a good training to become a trainer because I come from a different field and I really want to learn the craft. However this requires money. My current approach is to get whatever job I can get as close to being a trainer as possible so I can start doing what I love asap. But this doesn't work so well and I have to be very patiently trying to get my foot into the new field.

Now I could earn good money as a software developer to kickstart my trainer career. The thing is it doesn't motivate me at all. Just looking at the job descriptions turns me off.

My current approach is very slow with uncertain effectiveness, but I like that it is honest to myself. Every now and then the doubts creep in. If I really am sure about my goal, why not go after it as fast as possible? Why struggling with unemployment and not very challenging internships when I could have job where I am needed and well paid?

So what do you say? Stubbornly following my passion with some struggle or go after it faster with demotivating work? (OR stop the whining and become a life coach immediately? )

[CDHOAG]

So what do you say? Stubbornly following my passion with some struggle or go after it faster with demotivating work? (OR stop the whining and become a life coach immediately? )

If you met someone with your life, history, etc., would you follow them as a life coach?

Over time, I have become much clearer not just in terms of what I want to do, but also in terms of what I want to be. I eventually saw that I became like the people I hung around, so I became much pickier regarding who I hung around. I ended up leaving a church because I didn't love who I was becoming in it. It was opinion-heavy and character-light. I found few real role models there, even though I loved many of the members.

You want to be a life coach. That is really a professional role model. I try to follow Gandhi's advice: "Be the change you want to see in the world." (Or something like that.) Are you ready to be a paid role model?

[zetta]

Hm, the problem is that I want to be both, someone that stays true to himself and someone that's approaching his goals the smartest way. I guess in this situation integrity is more important to me than being smart / fast …

[CDHOAG]

You're right: Integrity is the most important thing. It is better to go two inches in a direction you are sure you want to go (and feel good about) than to be "successful" in an arena that you eventually hate and don't respect yourself for your participation in it. Try to find some people you truly admire and find out what they did to become who they are. Maybe you just want to emulate their values. Can you imagine the kind of advice a life coach would give you? If so, follow it, because it may be coming from a deeper part of you. If not, welcome to the wandering mass of humanity. You are in good company.