Doing something you like is better than making yourself miserable

All our lives we are asked what we want to be when we grow up, and for most of us, that answer has been in constant motion. Chances are what you said at five years old does not match your current intentions, and it is entirely possible your end goal will not match your current track either.

However, finding the right end goal or finding enough motivation to pursue that perfect end goal can be difficult for some people. 

Money can be a big factor in choosing where you want to end up. Many times, people sacrifice their true passion in life for the promise of financial stability. All in all, financial stability is nice, but it can lead to dissatisfaction which can spill over into everyday life ultimately leaving you miserable. 

Rising costs in college tuition can make this decision very difficult too because some majors have a higher debt-to-salary ratio, which can lead to picking something you do not love as much. Other times, money has nothing to do with it. 

It can also be that you think you would be good at a said career or the career sounds appealing to you, but it turns out to be the exact opposite. Or you were raised with a ‘purpose’; given to you by your parents and are worried about disappointing them or yourself. 

Parents can guilt trip you into not using your fullest potential and that lack of support can drive you to do something you may have zero interest in pursuing. However, doing something you have a passion for, or even just genuinely find interesting can be worth it. 

Maybe you will not make as much money with a teaching degree as you would with a Ph.D., but you love teaching kids. You are likely going to be happier teaching in a classroom than putting yourself through twelve years of school to do something you will only enjoy half as much. Even if you will not be making over a hundred grand a year, the satisfaction you would feel from doing something you enjoy will outweigh the money and give you a greater purpose in life.

Ultimately, finding the right career path is not a clear or easy decision. However, it seems that using money or your parents’ wishes as a guiding light will only lead to dissatisfaction. So, in the end, find what makes you happy and go with it.