Are you still asking "what do I want to do when I grow up?"
The ongoing quest for purpose and passion
Was I really expected to map out the rest of my life as a teenager? I remember the weight of choosing High School subjects, I felt like I was trying to predict my entire future!
I was so scared of making the wrong choice.
That wasn't the last time I grappled with the question of, "what do I want to do when I grow up?" I faced it after high school, when picking my university courses, with every job switch, and even now, it reappears unexpectedly, like an unwanted gate crasher.
Honestly, I've always felt like I was on a quest to find the mythical unicorn.
You know, the one thing that perfectly aligns with your skills, passions, pays well, and leaves you jumping out of bed with joy every morning!
It probably explains why I own books like, “The Element - how finding your passion changes everything” by Ken Robinson.
Ken Robinson said, “The Element is the point at which natural talent meets personal passion. When people arrive at the Element, they feel most themselves, most inspired, and achieve at their highest level.”
No pressure, Ken, no pressure!
When my best friend would excitedly list all the careers she wanted to explore, I couldn't help but wonder, "wait, aren't we all striving to find that one elusive dream career though?"
But maybe there's no such thing as ONE "perfect" career.
Our interests change, our skills evolve, shaped by the experiences we encounter along the way. What ignites our passion at 14 might be completely different from what sparks joy at 40.
Case in point: It wasn't until my 40s that I stumbled upon graphic design and fell head over heels in love with it. It just goes to show that sometimes the most unexpected detours lead to the most fulfilling destinations.
So here’s a wee note to myself to fend off the gate crasher that appeared earlier this week. (You see, I’ve reached the end of my January in-between month, and since I am reinventing my life outside of a 9-5 job, I started putting pressure on myself to have a clear roadmap for 2024….and probably the rest of my life). Who knows, maybe this pep talk is a timely reminder for you too.
Instead of stressing over “what do I want to do when I grow up?”, maybe the better question is “what do I want to BE now?”. Life is full of surprises, and who knows what exciting twists and turns lie ahead? So embrace the journey, relish the adventure and celebrate the beautiful messiness along the way. Maybe it’s finally accepting that it isn’t actually about reaching a certain destination – it's enjoying the crazy, wonderful side quests along the way!
Read more about why I left my job:
Read my ode to Substack newbies:
I've never known what I want to be when I grow up (and I'm 60 now!) I've never had a Grand Passion - but I have lots of little interests, I've had several career changes, I retired early and now I think I've discovered what living is really all about - and it's not about a job, that for me was a means to an end. The end is this delightful time of doing life on my own terms and on my own timetable - so you're not a unicorn, and life just keeps getting better and better (trust me!) :)
Mika, I resonate with this post so much... I never knew what I wanted to do - and what I did want to do (write...) I never felt good enough or brave enough... honestly I think I felt embarrassed, like it was somehow laughable. Thank you for highlighting this... we ebb and flow and our passions and loves change as we grow.