My Journey Through Self Love

Chapter 36 - Questions I'm Asking (and Answering) for Myself About Career

How do I figure out my ideal career path, and what are some things I can look out for that will let me know I'm choosing the right path?

Why I Feel So Lost:
No one knows what they are doing. Even people who look like they have it all together feel like they're just winging it and question the direction of their lives at some point. Figuring out what to do in life will almost always feel overwhelming. To get the answer to that big question, I have to think in smaller questions.

Smaller questions I could ask myself:
- What projects have energized me? What about them energized me?
- When was the last time I lost track of time because I was excited about something? When was the last time my motivation took over at work?
- Is there a cause or initiative that I feel particularly aligned with?
- Is there something I've always wanted to learn?
- What makes me happy?
- What makes me unhappy? What are my dealbreakers?
- What type of company do I want to surround myself with? Who would I want to talk to? What group would I like to join?
- What would I like to create using my passions and skills?
- What books would I like to read? What podcasts would I like to listen to? What videos would I like to watch?

My passions don't have to be professional, and I don't have to monetize every hobby or interest. Too much passion in a job can lead to burnout, so it's honestly best to keep my passions off the clock so that I can enjoy them on my own terms. This helps broaden the definition of my ideal job so that I can explore more options. It also makes it easier to say no to things, leave if the job sparks any red flags, and get my work done so that I can go home to my real life.

Using these smaller questions, I can determine what I want to do in the moment, whether it's making an unexpected career move or trying a new hobby, without feeling pressured to pour all my passion and energy into a job title.

What My Career Can Be:
The push to have pointed career goals started at a young age when people would ask me, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" There was also the push for me to get a bachelor's degree, and then a graduate degree, and then work in a "dream" job. My entire life was spent chasing down the dream job. But once I get to that dream job, there's no guarantee that I'll actually be fulfilled.

The career ladder is a very traditional way of thinking about a career path and career growth, but the overarching problem with a career ladder is that it only offers one upward direction to follow.

In actuality, careers can take a more winding route. The next level of my career might not be above me. I might use my professional growth to take skills to an entirely new industry or direction or maybe go back to an entry-level job. I can go with the flow or create a new flow that is better suited for me, taking my time to explore what it is I like.

The truth is, I'll be spending the majority of my life working, but my work doesn't have to equal my life. I can achieve career success without completely burning myself out aiming for the top of the ladder.

My career can be:
- a source of monetary benefits
- a position that allows me to keep my life values
- something that allows me to pursue my passions for the greater good
- somewhere that I can find some fulfillment (but not all of it)
- a place where I can learn new skills
- work and tasks that give me personal satisfaction and make me proud of myself
- something that fits into whatever phase of life I'm currently navigating (for example, recent college grad)
- something that allows for risk-taking, but maybe isn't inherently risky
- something that can change over time, allowing me to open myself to unexpected career transitions

My career isn't:
- my identity
- my family
- my entire life
- my worth or my confidence
- my happiness

Finding happiness and meaning in my career isn't a bad thing, but if I make my entire life about work, I'll end up feeling burnt out and disappointed.