I’ve never posted on here before, but must say this resonated with me.

I started my early life as a semi-professional sportsman, then became a musician and did (and still do) a variety of jobs – everything from gardening to bar work to writing. I undertook a PhD at 30 – this was coming off the back of 2-3 years of study, and (HUGE) debt! And in my later years I achieved quite highly without trying. Having essentially spent 4 years training as a teacher prior to my PhD (which I subsequently left for an MA, which I’m undertaking presently) I also had the same concerns: What about money, my future, security? Have I wasted all those years etc. etc. I even spent a year or two working as a supply teacher to try and convince myself that I could do this “just for the money” – which of course never works out 🙂

Presently I’m 33 and I’m doing an MA in Creative and Critical Writing and it feels ‘right’. I have little money and work odd jobs here and there. I suppose, I could look at it as though, work-wise, I’m not ‘fulfilling my potential’. But that simply wouldn’t be true. Sometimes I feel old and like I have no security – especially since I had to move back with my parents since I was the partner in a failed business the year previous! But again, this simply isn’t true. I can honestly say I am happier than I’ve ever been. Although, this hasn’t come from any external factors as such, it’s simply through practising and understanding that things will work out, and that you only ever have the present moment. I panicked about my course fees and how I would eat, but I got a large tax rebate from out of nowhere and then my course fees got reduced as well as some other fortuitous events. Okay I’m hardly rolling in it and sometimes it’s a tin of tuna for dinner, since I have no savings either 🙂 But had I never made that first step and decided to simply jump into the MA despite people telling me it was “beneath me” or that I “really should be doing a PhD,” or even telling myself “I can’t afford it” then none of these events would have transpired.

Money will come and go. And yes we need it, certainly, to live etcetera. But it is my experience if you simply accept what is in front of you and step off the cliff, so to speak, then things will happen that you never could of predicted. I’d always follow your gut. And believe me that’s been incredibly difficult for me to do, and sometimes like us all, I haven’t. But I can honestly say every time I have, and this applies to what I’m currently engaged in, things happen that I would have never thought possible. Stress stunts all forms of creativity and that includes deciding on your goal or purpose or whatever you want to call it. I’d personally try and work to switch your mind off and see what comes to you. It might even be something that you’ve never even considered. Good luck 🙂

Hi M@ry, you may already have your answer but I wanted to chime in. It’s never too late to find your path and start doing something you love. Yes, your ability to earn a living is important, but so is your happiness and sense of fulfillment – if that is important to you.

It doesn’t hurt to try new things and sometimes we all change our minds, but the key is finding something that you truly enjoy and then figuring out a way to make money doing that. Any education you already have will not be wasted, as you can never unlearn what you have learned and you never know, it may come in handy one day. It’s great to be educated in many different subjects, all of your experiences are shaping you, adding to the person that you are.

May I suggest that you spend some time evaluating your likes and dislikes, your natural talents and skills, and your hopes and dreams. Then listen to your heart and define what you really want out of your life. Then go do that. Even small steps will lead you to where you want to go. And don’t be afraid to course correct as you go. The great thing about decisions is that you can always make another one!

Best of luck to you in finding your path!
Cat Wall
Decision Tree Coaching

M@ry,
I want to share my experience. I’m 60 and working on getting into my life’s passion which I only discovered 3 years ago. I knew what I got my degrees for (M.S. in computer engineering, MBA) and what I have been doing (project management in technology) were not my life’s work. What kept me from even uncovering my life’s passion was financial security. I think that is a false concern. I don’t have much of a pension and very little savings but I feel that I don’t have a choice in my life but to pursue what I am meant to do.

There IS that balance between planning for the future versus giving up what you are meant to do in this world. If you go into such scenarios like “What if I’m 65 …?” then you will always make one kind of decision.

How about asking the question, “What if I know I am going to die soon?” THEN that puts a different light in your decision making process.

I beileve the question that should be asked is “Who do I want to be?” Then the activity/job/profession should unfold for you. I don’t think it needs to be an “either/or” decision. If you find a job that does not feed your soul does not mean you have to give up pursuing your life’s work.. at least right away.

The key is to focus on what you really want/who you are and then put that plan in place, set that intention. The Universe and your unconscious will guide you from there.

Let us know what you decide.

Metta,
Mark