"The misery that oppresses you lies not in your profession but in yourself! What man in the world would not find his situation intolerable if he chooses a craft, an art, indeed any form of life, without experiencing an inner calling? Whoever is born with talent, or to a talent, must surely find in that the most pleasing of occupations! Everything on this earth has its difficult sides! Only some inner drive-pleasure, love-can help us overcome obstacles, prepare a path, and lift us out of the narrow circle in which others tread out their anguished, miserable experiences!"
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Each of us has a unique genetic makeup and was exposed to a unique set of environmental factors. All of these factors combine to create an individual that is one of a kind in history.
This means we each have a set of preferences that are deeply embedded in our bodies. Emergent properties of the trillions of cells that compose us.
In childhood you probably noticed you had certain inclinations that were different from those of other people. Objects or activities you felt a visceral connection to.
These instincts contain a lot of power. They guide you towards disciplines that are uniquely suited to your talents. That engage you on the deepest level. If acted upon in a focused manner, they can lead you to lifelong fulfillment.
This is the way to choose a career. By going down the path revealed by studying our deepest inclinations. It will take years of experimentation to find out exactly what that path is. But it's the best chance we've got.
Welcome to my Study Notebook. Here I take different ideas from great authors and dissect them in order to improve my thinking and share some great curated knowledge with the world! If you took something away from this post, please consider buying the book that inspired it: