What to do?

[rawffle]

Hi all, just wanted to basically blab about an issue I've been dealing with for a long time...

I have had a really difficult time choosing a career path for myself. The problem I keep running into is that I love SO MANY things, so then when I come down to a decision I start to wonder about how THAT path might not leave me time to pursue the others. I am really struggling to listen to my heart and not just go down the path to a high-paying job. Right now I do administrative work but it pays peanuts.

Here are some of the things I've been been researching heavily:


Chiropractic (my interest was piqued again during massage school)
Massage Therapy combined with Raw Food teaching and other alternative health (I have actually graduated a MT program and I do that on the side right now - need more money for all the licenses and fees and insurance because I moved to another state)
Naturopathy, natural health, etc
Art School - actually applied to the 4yr college here but I'm not accepted yet
IT - computers and tech, etc. Applied to a program for this, too, but my heart says that's the wrong direction! Thinking about switching to Business instead to generally help me with all my health/art-related endeavors since they're of a more entrepreneurial nature (which I like). Haven't started IT yet so I can still change this.
For years I also considered Political Science and
Language Major or linguist.


I have always loved art and when I was younger I started a Graphic Design program - and did HORRIBLY. I think that was a combination of depression, plain old being young and irresponsible, and being discouraged because it just wasn't what I thought it was - it was all deadlines and advertising. I only took it so I could keep making art, and it really wasn't the same at all.

I have a really good left brain but my heart likes the right-brained, organic things (art, languages, and alternative health stuff). Maybe I'm just a whole-brained person! It's really confusing!

The one pattern I keep seeing is that I want to help people, and I want to be my own boss. I would like to make Art as a side income (or make it anyway, even if it rarely sells). I kind of tried to make myself "grow up" and have neglected my creativity over the years.

Art school would be FUN, but four years? Do I even need a degree of any kind? I've always wanted one; I can't really explain why. I guess I feel "unfinished" without a more traditional education.

I have become a responsible adult, and will finish what I start. :) Massage school and a full-time job at the same time proved to me that I've changed in that regard. I just keep searching for the right way to go.

Anyone ever experience this?

By the way, my dad was like this and I think I'm very much like him. He was a musician but also went to school to be an electrician and was always taking things apart. By the time he died, music was the focus of his life and he never went very far with the electrician thing as far as I know. I think he, like me, could learn just about anything, but just because you're good at something doesn't mean it will make you happy. Seems like we are both very curious beings! My mom says that he was very interested in health and spirituality the way that I am, so our logical side really confuses her when it decides to show through. I think anyone who really knows me might describe me as generally weird. :P

[spicyfull]

Follow your Heart, do the things you really Love.

[contessa20]

Oh, you and I sound EXACTLY alike!

Don't worry about being a "responsible adult". Don't worry about doing what you "think" you're supposed to do (get a good job, live in a nice house etc.). Do what you WANT to do, even if that means changing jobs every year, becoming a full-time student or moving from place to place to place. You need to decide what is MOST important in your life and then follow it. For most Americans money and status are the most important, which is why we have so many unhappy but materially rich people in this country. Do whatever it takes to be able to do what is MOST important to you and then the rest will follow.

Many people think it's difficult but I just don't see it. If you do what it is you LOVE, then you may have to sacrifice things like material wealth for a time but that's your trade-off.

Good luck to you!

[rawffle]

Thank you, that's basically what I'm doing. I don't really have a choice, because if I don't do this I get very depressed. I was just wondering if anyone else felt this way. I wrote all of this before I saw Colorawdo's thread on being highly sensitive. I had no idea there was advice out there for people like me, I didn't even know what an HSP was until yesterday. I just thought I was weird or somehow not emotionally mature, or something. I'm NOT a slacker - I just didn't understand myself! I can't wait to tell my mom about this; she is the same way and I was always angry with her growing up because I thought she should have been at work and we were so broke. She did try school and did finish a few things... she too just didn't know where she belonged and she still doesn't. What a breakthrough this has all been for me - now I can forgive her for that.

I like material things just like anyone else, but not enough to stay in one place if I don't want to, or to be unhappy with my life.

Thank you! :)

[contessa20]

(((hugs)))

I'm so rejoicing in your discovery with you!!!! Isn't it great to find out new things about yourself? I love it.

[Colorawdo girl]

rawffle, When I learned that stuff,,saw me in all of it, it made so much sense. I understood me. Glad it helped.

[rawffle]

I decided that since I want to get a degree, I am going to get one that is more compatible with my need to work my own hours/run my own business. I have changed from IT, to Business with an Emphasis in Marketing. This way I can do whatever I like and feel like I've got the general knowledge to keep things running smoothly on the business end of things.

I am feeling so good right now!

[RawSar]

On average people change their career approx. 7 times.

[rawffle]

Ha, well I've got them all beat in that department. But I'm understanding myself now and I can't even describe how great it is.