How To Choose a Career That Will Make You Happy (Blog)

[lifetimelearner]

Originally Posted by Erin Pavlina

Doesn't have to be what you liked as a kid. Could be what you're passionate about now.

I just think that often as kids we discover our passion and don't see how to earn a living at it, or it's not taught in school or college, so we gravitate towards something that is an established or known profession.

But hey, if you liked pleasing others, there are plenty of professions where you get to do just that:
Concierge
Prostitute
Customer Service
Technical Support
Wedding planner
Hospice worker
Etc.

LOL thanks Erin

actually I hate pleasing people

I would rather just be myself -

and 'myself' likes quiet jobs -the opposite of what I actually do now

[Strem2]

Originally Posted by Elfwing

While I really, really appreciate the ideas, it just wouldn't work. ....

I'd love to just be a nomad, wandering through towns and life as I please, just seeing things, not settling down anywhere. ....

... I'm not quite sure why I went on like that, but thank you for bearing with me.

Elfwing,
Someone said to me recently, that all I needed to do was to open the door so that my soul could come through and explore why it came here.

I started to cry, and cried and cried for a long time. I have beaten myself up, as you seem to be doing, for not having a strong sense of "what I wanted to be when I grew up". I have always admired people who knew who they were and what they wanted to do.

Can I suggest that you don't do anything until you find a way to love who you are?

[pianoperformer]

When I was in elementary school, I wanted to be a policeman, because my grandmother used to be a policewoman and it seemed pretty cool.

Obviously that's impossible. So then I wanted to be a programmer.

[MikeK]

OK, So I resigned today and it is all your fault Erin! Thanks for the kick in the pants
Mike
p.s. Note to self: Buy an ax and chainsaw on the way home. These trees must go!

[Erin Pavlina]

cool deal Mike! Let us know what becomes of you and those trees. do you have a passion lined up?

[MikeK]

Details

Actually, when you wrote, "unless that’s the only way to get you moving in the right direction" ... that was for me. I've been looking at trees (sorting through passions, etc.) for a while now so it's way past time to start removing trees in earnest. My last day is June 30. No guts, no glory!

[Domokun]

But hey, if you liked pleasing others, there are plenty of professions where you get to do just that:
Prostitute

Erin, I can't tell if you're kidding or not! Would you mind elaborating?
Just curious

[Elfwing]

Originally Posted by Strem2

Elfwing,
Someone said to me recently, that all I needed to do was to open the door so that my soul could come through and explore why it came here.

I started to cry, and cried and cried for a long time. I have beaten myself up, as you seem to be doing, for not having a strong sense of "what I wanted to be when I grew up". I have always admired people who knew who they were and what they wanted to do.

Can I suggest that you don't do anything until you find a way to love who you are?

Thanks for your response. *Hugs*

I honestly don't know how to love myself. I grew up hating myself, and I still get relapses where I absolutely loathe myself to the point where I try to sabotage relationships passive-aggressively because I don't believe the other person genuinely wants to know somebody like me. I don't know how to heal from this aside from the obvious - time.

I'm better, though. I can tolerate myself now and sometimes I even believe I have talent where I didn't before.

I have a rough plan! No idea for the income thing, but I've decided I'm going to buy a van and just travel around Australia for a bit, with some source of passive income. In spite of what I said about travel writing, I may write about my travels - but more like a story than a "this-is-what-happened" kind of way, if that makes sense. I've dropped by travel blogs and read a little travel writing, and could never keep interested because it just sounded like a flat recount.

Thanks.

[Erin Pavlina]

Originally Posted by Domokun

Erin, I can't tell if you're kidding or not! Would you mind elaborating?
Just curious

not kidding, per se. Prostitution is a viable option, and even legal in some places. Just keeping all the options on the table.

[lifetimelearner]

I remembered something today -
when I was a little girl my parents took my sisters and I to Seaworld and that's where I fell in love with sea creatures

I LOVE sea creatures!!
whales ,dolphins,turtles ,sting rays


I just need to figure out how to incorporate this into my life

thank you Erin

[rose A]

elfwing, Charles Kuralt wrote about everyday people that he met while traveling across America. Very heartwarming stories. Look for his book.

Kuralt, Charles

Kuralt's three-month trial began in October 1967, and turned into a twenty-five-year odyssey. With cameraman Izzy Bleckman and soundman Larry Gianneschi, he logged more than one million miles in six motor homes while producing approximately 500 "On the Road" segments. Staying off the interstates and with no set itinerary, he -drew upon viewer letters, a state-by-state clipping file, and occasional references from public relations firms and local chambers of commerce to find unusual stories and unsung heroes. He had total freedom to discover America.

[Kaspian]

Elfwing,

Have you seen Where The Hell Is Matt? He made two trips around the world sponsored by Stride Gum. His 2006 trip included all 7 continents and 39 countries. If I remember correctly, his 2007 trip involved even more countries. See Where The Hell Is Matt? - About Matt.

There is always a way.

[Elfwing]

*Hugs* Thank you both so much.