How to find fulfilling work

[Shared Joy]

Hi,

Although the choice of work became larger, the confusion, the unemployment also became big issues.
Education system is poor, vocational advising is scarce, most adults are pessimistic. Happiness, fulfillment seems to be far away around the corner.

Finding a good job, building a career nowadays isn't related solely to the offer - we need to know ourselves and take action in the real world to try out our wings. One must somehow drop the consumerism attitude our society is smothered in (with all these ready-made, ready-to-eat, products and services).

This video contains some good advice: _https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veriqDHLXsw

- being confused is normal, so this shouldn't stop you right from the start

- work on yourself, get to know yourself

- take time to identify the right career

- try something to get involved in the real world, to gather info

- reflect on what makes people unhappy in their choices - what work really should be to give satisfaction, to become accomplished

- be confident - imagine yourself in a role, try it

- How do you know you made the right choices? The feedback will be: NO REGRETS! (for decent, right-minded persons, of course)

You input would be valuable, as we are so widespread all over the globe, that good ideas (or warnings) could find here a proper ground to be implemented to serve many of us.

Thank you!

 

[PhoenixToEmber]

This is a subject that has been weighing heavily on me. In 2014 I graduated with a B.A. in English/Writing, and writing is what I always dreamed of making a career out of, but you don't make a living writing unless you are well-known enough to sell enough books. Since then I've been waiting tables just to get by, and it's soul-crushing work. Sure, I self-published a book of poetry and made a bit of money from it, but nothing to live on. Since college I've also been working on a book about esoterica and symbolism, but in the last year it has been set aside and I can hardly focus on it anymore with all the stress of my home situation and working, which has brought on depression here and there.

Yesterday I made it through my first day of substitute teaching, and it wasn't so bad. And then I went to the restaurant afterward and had a terrible night, which really upset me a lot. But then this morning, my friend who works at the school I subbed at texted me and offered me a long assignment of subbing a third grade class for almost a month straight. All day I thought about it before making the decision, because I won't just be handing out busy-work and watching a class, but I will actually have to administer lessons and teach these kids like a full-time teacher, grading and all. I also have little experience with 8-10 year old kids. I almost backed out because I knew I had to drop most of my shifts at the restaurant, for I'd be unable to do both at once, and after the month is up there's no assurance I'll get those shifts back, so if subbing jobs are scarce afterward I'll be out of luck financially. In the end, I agreed to take the job and I'm really scared about it, because I have no experience. But I know being scared is a sign I should do it, for my own growth, and the fact that the opportunity came after a particularly bad night of waiting tables was also a sign to do it. I also think it'll be more fulfilling work, where I'll feel like I'm actually applying my degree to something useful and educational, rather than the mind-numbing drudgery of being a waiter. It's a big risk for me, and I'm entering unfamiliar territory so my anxiety has been eating away at me all day thinking about it. There's a part of me that's excited though.

I always felt that I would prefer teaching college over young grades, and for that I need to go back to college. But I've been hesitant to do that because the American system traps us in debt, and I'm already still in $24,000 of debt from my B.A. although I've been slowly paying it off. I think finding fulfilling work is one of the biggest dilemmas in our lives, especially in a system of debt slavery like this - most people never make a living doing what they love and feeling fulfilled.

 

[herondancer]

Wow, even with all the pros and cons, this seems like an exciting opportunity! You've got the chance to infuse a little of your own love of reading and writing when kids are (hopefully still) open to it. You'll get the feeling of being an educator without the long-term commitment. Who knows? You may fall in love with teaching that grade. The school may fall in love with you, and want to keep giving you subs. And even if you don't love the job for one reason or another, it's only a month, and it's a cred on your CV. It's got to beat waiting tables. I'm glad you're going for it.

 

[Shared Joy]

This is a subject that has been weighing heavily on me. In 2014 I graduated with a B.A. in English/Writing, and writing is what I always dreamed of making a career out of, but you don't make a living writing unless you are well-known enough to sell enough books. Since then I've been waiting tables just to get by, and it's soul-crushing work. Sure, I self-published a book of poetry and made a bit of money from it, but nothing to live on. Since college I've also been working on a book about esoterica and symbolism, but in the last year it has been set aside and I can hardly focus on it anymore with all the stress of my home situation and working, which has brought on depression here and there.
......

In the end, I agreed to take the job and I'm really scared about it, because I have no experience. But I know being scared is a sign I should do it, for my own growth, and the fact that the opportunity came after a particularly bad night of waiting tables was also a sign to do it. I also think it'll be more fulfilling work, where I'll feel like I'm actually applying my degree to something useful and educational, rather than the mind-numbing drudgery of being a waiter. It's a big risk for me, and I'm entering unfamiliar territory so my anxiety has been eating away at me all day thinking about it. There's a part of me that's excited though.
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I always felt that I would prefer teaching college over young grades, and for that I need to go back to college. But I've been hesitant to do that because the American system traps us in debt, and I'm already still in $24,000 of debt from my B.A. although I've been slowly paying it off. I think finding fulfilling work is one of the biggest dilemmas in our lives, especially in a system of debt slavery like this - most people never make a living doing what they love and feeling fulfilled.

Hi PhoenixToEmber,

I understand your hesitation - this world doesn't encourage initiatives which tend to break the common thinking: it's not safe, no guaranties, no experience, no possibilities, etc. And all these hindrances are the generators of anxiety, futility and depression. So, what do you have to loose? Maybe just fear itself, fear of the unknown.

Get to know what you fear, take action in small steps or larger leaps, as it comes, and you'll see the fear diminishing, morphing into something which is "Excitement". Remember a Sott article where the author said that instead of saying I am anxious, say I'm excited? These two give approximately the same physical/mental reaction, so you can safely substitute one for another.

Don't be afraid to tackle new territories! The kids will love you if you put their interests first: so, when you are in trouble about what to say, just ask open questions - what is their opinion of something, how they perceive an issue, what is what they like or dislike, what caught their attention lately. These could be unrelated to the subject you are teaching, but they build openness, closeness, friendship, gratitude.

Remember: teaching small kids now,you prepare the college students to be! How do you want them to be? You could be the one to make them love to learn and open their path in the future, offer them some vocational advice. You can do a lot of good things.

Well, as you can see, my English is not so good, others struggle as well - but we all would like to offer something of value. You can do this with those kids, so enjoy your assignment!

Good luck and joyous days ahead!

 

[PhoenixToEmber]

Thanks for the feedback, it was encouraging. I did my second day of subbing on Friday and I survived. One class gave me a particularly difficult time, but I managed to handle the situation. After I finished I realized that I really could do it. I even spent one of my free periods next door in the music room and the teacher let me play on the drum set. I demonstrated my skills and impressed a bunch of the kids. I could sense a couple felt intimidated by how good I played, so I gave them a pep talk. I asked how old they were. Some said 12, some 13. I told them I was their age when I started playing, and that if they really love doing it nothing will stop them, and if they keep practicing, they will sound like I do when they're my age, if not better. It was a real eye opening moment for me, of the impact I could have on their future with just a single moment. It was the highlight of my day.

Tomorrow school is closed because of the Jonas Blizzard, so Tuesday I begin my long term assignment. I've been going over the lesson plans my friend sent me. I'll let y'all know how it goes. :)