There’s only one step between dream and nightmare. And that’s exactly what’s happening today when we talk about our dream job. Yes, the quest for it often turns into disillusionment, because we put too much pressure on ourselves. That’s why I’m sharing with you 6 tips for changing career paths and avoiding the trap.

1 – Changing career paths: understanding what a career is

A career is the work we do.

The purpose of a job is to give us the financial means to live: to eat, to sleep, to be safe under a roof… When we have a job, we take care of ourselves and our family. Yes, we give ourselves the means to live.

It’s important to understand that we’re not here on Earth to be successful. We’re here, first and foremost, for one purpose: to take care of ourselves and others.

And work, whatever it may be, enables us to satisfy one of our main needs as human beings.

When we say career, we think of climbing the ladder and promotion. And it’s true! Because the higher up the ladder we climb, the more money we earn. The more money we earn, the more we’re able to take care of ourselves and our families.

The problem comes when this career creates an imbalance in our personal lives: we work more than we enjoy our health and the company of our loved ones.

2 – Understanding a vocation

A vocation has nothing to do with work or a career.

In fact, a vocation is something we do, something we even need to do, something that thrills us and makes us dream. It’s a personal interest, an attraction.

A vocation is not about making money. In other words, a vocation isn’t meant to make us eat and keep us and our families safe.

When we talk about vocation, we’re talking about altruism. Indeed, a vocation is often about serving others: volunteering, teaching, parenting…

What we need to remember is that career and vocation can be one and the same, but they don’t have to be. One is not better than the other. Each of us makes our own path.

3 – Changing career paths: confusing career with vocation

Today, we idealize our work, our career. We put crazy pressure on ourselves to merge our career and our vocation. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

In fact, we can have a job and a passion, and the two can be distinct.

Our society would have us believe that work is our number one priority. But it doesn’t have to be.

Yes, we can love our work, but not make it THE priority. We can make time for our family and our passions.

The pitfall of changing career paths is to insist that our work makes us happy.

4 – Love everything you do

What causes most dissatisfaction in our lives is expecting our actions to make us happy, when it’s up to us to bring happiness to our actions.

In fact, happiness doesn’t come from what you do, but from how you do things.

You can be happy in your work, whatever it may be.

Put your heart into it. Feel useful and do it well!

Martin Luther King said:

Whatever your life’s work is, do it well. Even if it does not fall in the category of one of the so-called big professions, do it well. As one college president said, “A man should do his job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better.” If it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, like Shakespeare wrote poetry, like Beethoven composed music; sweep streets so well that all the host of Heaven and earth will have to pause and say, “Here lived a great street sweeper, who swept his job well.”

5 – Changing career paths: making decisions from the heart

All too often, when we want to change career paths, we put too much trust in our minds. We think for days, months even.

We do skills assessments and take tests, hoping that the answer will be found on those pieces of paper or in someone else’s head.

Yet the answer lies in our hearts: what’s important to me? What do I have the opportunity to do today? What am I good at? How can I be of service?

Let’s not listen to our minds or to others. Nor should we make excuses: it’s too difficult, I don’t have time, I’m afraid of being judged…

How can I change my career path? By trusting our heart to make the decision, rather than our mind.

6 – Be proud of yourself now!

Whatever your job or vocation, be proud of yourself.

The most important thing is what you think and feel. Detach yourself from the gaze of others. You’re not just an assistant, an accountant, a cleaner, a civil servant… You’re a person doing a job and doing it well!

Be proud of your job and put your heart into it.

Remember that you are much more than your job. It doesn’t define you.

Also, remember that you’re here to be happy, not to show off to others.

Find out more:

I invite you to read these 2 complementary articles:

Discover Taking stock of your year: 10 questions for a fresh start
Discover I don’t have a passion: 40 ideas for passions to try out!

I recommend this inspiring book:

Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
Chip Heath and Dan Heath’s book offers insights into career change by exploring the psychology of change. Using the analogy of the rider (the rational mind), the elephant (the emotional side) and the path (the environment), the book offers a framework for navigating change. It looks at case studies and practical strategies, helping individuals and organizations understand how to overcome resistance and make successful transitions in their careers. This book is a valuable resource for those seeking to navigate and initiate change in their professional lives.

I recommend it to anyone who wants to change something and wants to understand why it’s sometimes so difficult after the first failure. It’s easy and exciting to read, thanks to the many real-life examples.

Thank you very much for reading this article.

If you liked it, let me know in the comments.

Take care of yourself