I know, I know, it's been forever since I last wrote, I apologize. I have been having a lot of chaos happening both at work and in my personal life and things have gotten away from me. I hope that things are going well for you though! So, before any of you ask, things are potentially better, but I'm not really sure yet, there's still a lot of stuff up in the air! Today, I want to talk about career goals and ambitions.
So, part of the chaos is trying to figure out what I want to do with my life, trying to put the pieces together and into something that I'm excited about. Everyone has goals and ambitions, but how often do we actually do anything to try and make those goals and ambitions happen? We usually act like Lottie from The Princess and the Frog, we wish on stars and hope that it'll happen, but we don't usually put in the effort and hard work required. I think that's something I've learned lately, if it's what you're truly meant to do, this universe of ours is going to give you the gifts to excel at it, but you need to do the rest of the work! You need to try, you need to push beyond your comfort zone, you need to give it everything you've got. You can't expect the universe to guide you perfectly and happily through life. You have to give it all you've got. Do you want to show up at the end of your life fully rested, safe and sound, never having been hurt, but never having really accomplished what you wanted? Probably not. You probably want to get to the end of your life, a huge smile on your face, peace and happiness radiating from you because you lived your life to the fullest, and though, sure, you're sad to have left your loved ones behind, you also know you lived YOUR life. What better example is there to leave your loved ones with than you having done exactly what you wanted? Everyone knows if you want kids to turn out well you spend half as much money on them and twice as much time with them. You don't tell them how to act, you show them. It's actions that matter. Words are useless. Words are just words. There's a quote that says: I'm sorry is a statement, I won't do it again is a promise, how do I make it up to you is a responsibility. It's the same principle. Words mean next to nothing in this big bad world of ours; actions mean everything. So, don't just say you're going to do something, do it! Don't just say you want something, go get it! Don't just talk, be what you talk about.
So, maybe you're trying to figure out what you're supposed to do, what you want from this life, good! Think about it, chew on it, get down and dirty with it! Don't let it go, really wrestle with it! Take quiet moments to basically meditate on it. Take a moment when you're blissfully happy to remind yourself that you're happy and maybe that's part of your calling. Take a note of when you're a part of something that feels like it's sucking your soul out and avoid it at all costs. It's not going to be easy. No, it's going to be hard. It's going to suck at times. You're going to feel lost. You're going to want to give up and go the easy route. Don't. Don't give up! Fight, work for it, trust the process! I have been there, I've been struggling for the last two years trying to figure out exactly what to do with my life. I feel like an idiot because it took me so long to figure it out, but I've finally got it, and damn if it doesn't feel like coming home now that I've found it. Now, I need to go back to school, get a bachelor's, and then try and get a job, but I'm going to do exactly that.
Now, let me give you an example of what this crazy round about path might look like, because this is what mine looked like. I wanted to be an anthropology professor, then I talked to my adviser in college and they said that I needed to be prepared to get my PhD, which I wasn't willing to do due to cost and time, it was too much for me. So, then I scrambled, trying to figure out what I was going to do. I like airplanes and travel, always having loved airports and watching and hearing planes taking off, so I thought about joining the military as an air traffic controller. That didn't last long. Then I thought about my love of bohemian and gypsy things, and thought about starting a t-shirt company, basically the modern version of a lemonade stand. It's still a possibility, but not something I genuinely think I would want to do for a career. Then I thought about my love for dogs and photography and thought of being a pet photographer. The list goes on and on. The careers are all over the map: college professor, air traffic controller, marine biologist, IT person, t-shirt company owner, dog photographer, blogger, jewelry designer, gemstone aficionado, etc. Believe me, I was all over the place! Then, I self-published my book, Decision, and somehow it just clicked. I've always been good with English. I've always been more of an English and history kind of person, than math and science, but I never thought that would amount to much because the big careers now all require a background in STEM, which is NOT my strong suit. So, I just thought I was forced to have a normal job, be a bank teller forever, and deal with it. Then, somehow, out of the blue, it came to me. I LOVE reading, I read all the time. I LOVE writing, I wrote a freaking book for crying out loud, I have this blog(as bad as I am at writing when things get crazy, sorry!). And I LOVE helping other people, hence why I wanted to be a teacher, I love being able to help people succeed. So, any guesses what career I decided on? That's right, I decided on being an editor! And, wouldn't you just know it, when I looked into what kind of requirements and what's a good leg up for getting a job after college, they said having a background in computer formatting and graphic design because so much of editing is done on a computer and published in e-book format now, having that computer background can really give you a leg up. So, lucky me, I already wanted to get into IT, I wanted to get into design for my t-shirt company, I love reading and writing, and I love helping people make the most of their work. So, bam, just like that, being an editor was perfect for me. English has always been my talent, I've just been good at it without trying. So, I'm taking the talent the universe has given me and I'm going to put in the hard work required and eventually get the career I want. And who knows, maybe I'll be able to eventually be a work from home editor, or one of those people that goes on a vacation whenever they want, because I just take my laptop with me and I can review a book while I'm on vacation. That's the life I want. And all I need to do is put in two years of hard work in college, since I've already done two years at a junior college, and I'll have my degree. I can do that. I know I can. I want this. I'm going to put in the time and the dedication. I won't let myself talk myself out of this. This is right.
So, I know that it's been a long road. I've struggled trying to find the right career for me for years, but I am here to say, if you're struggling too, don't give up, it'll come to you! I am 27, geez, when did that happen, and I just now figured out what I want to do. Maybe you're younger, maybe you're older, but either way, sit with the question, "What do I want?" Allow yourself to be guided by that question. You don't need to sit on top of a mountain meditating on it, just go through life, and if you're not satisfied with your life, keep it in the back of your mind. Eventually, something will trigger the answer within you. Eventually, the answer will come and it be like coming home. Eventually, you'll find what you're looking for. Keep the faith. Look at your natural talents, look at what the universe gave you, and maybe let that guide you. Look at professional athletes. Why do little kids love athletes? Because they followed their dream, because they have a "cool" job, they are something that not everyone can do. Be that person. Maybe you want to do something that isn't "cool" to most people, that's okay! Being an editor isn't cool to most people, but I love writing and reading, and I'm good at both, that's my version of being a naturally gifted athlete. Maybe I can't be the next Michael Jordan, but I can be someone that is just GOOD at what I do. Maybe I need to put in effort and training, i.e. college, to hone my craft, but then I'll be even better at what I'm already good at. That'll be my version of training at the gym. Try and think of it that way. Be you. Let your talents guide you. Look at what you're good at without trying, look at what you enjoy doing, look at what aligns and follow that. There's another quote that says "Make a list of things that make you happy. Make a list of things you do every day. Compare the lists. Adjust accordingly." Do that with some minor tweaks and find your passion. I read a thing the other day about how someone that read fan-fiction felt like a loser because all they did to contribute to fan-fiction was reading it. They said they couldn't write the way the way the author did, they couldn't draw the way the illustrator did, they couldn't format websites like the host did, etc. And someone commented back telling them that if it weren't for them READING the fan-fiction, there would be no one writing it, there would be no one illustrating it, there would be no one making a website to host it. It takes all kinds. So, if you ever feel like you love a part of something but you're not good enough to be a part of it, just think of it a little differently, tweak the way you think of it. Maybe that person that wasn't good enough to be a writer, illustrator, host, etc, maybe they could be a content manager. Then they could read all the fan-fiction they wanted. It's all in how you look at it. Don't give up.
Anyway, that's my LONG piece about believing in yourself, trusting yourself, guiding yourself, knowing you'll find what you're meant to, one way or another, you'll find it. Don't give in to a career you hate, don't give up, don't just wish on stars, put in the work and you'll find what you're looking for and then some! I know you can! So, here's to you! Whether you know what you want to do for a career or not, I believe in you! If you don't know what you want to do, I was you just a few weeks ago, so don't give up! If you already know what you want to do, go and put in the effort and make it happen! If you're already doing what you love, I'm so proud of you for having gotten already! Feel free to comment below about what you're talents are, what you're hobbies are, what you're wanting to do, or maybe even what you do that is you're dream job! Let's get this conversation going! So, that's all for me today, lovelies! I hope you have a splendid day, a great weekend, and you feel inspired!
xoxo,
Kayla
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