Why you are never too old to change
After I finished my bachelor’s, I thought I had everything figured out:
- I’m a grown-up now
- I’m starting to work in a job I will have for more than 40 years
- I finished my education
- I know what I want
I was totally wrong. I was feeling lost.
I started working, and after a few months, I got frustrated. It was not depression or burnout; it was just me being frustrated with life and work.
I’m exchanging my precious time for money I don’t know how to spend and for work that is not fulfilling and is useless.
I had a quarter-life crisis.
Society tells you to decide what you want to do for the rest of your life before starting to study.
You are 18 and you are still a teenager, and they think you know what you want to do? Most of us don’t.
But the great thing about today’s life is: you can change professions easier than ever, and there are so many options.
10 years later, I can tell you: don’t pressure yourself to find THE passion or THE work you want to do for the rest of your life.
You will not. Because life is changing. You will change.
You can have more than 1 passion in your life. In the 21st century, you have the opportunity to do more than 1 job.
- learning something new at any age
- starting a side hustle online
- starting a business without an expensive degree
“Never too old, never too bad, never too late, never too sick to start from scratch once again.”
— Bikram Choudhury
Take the risk of change
If you don’t like where you are going, don’t be afraid to change professions.
At any age. Don’t ever think that your age is an excuse for making a change. It never is.
I started to study something completely different again at 23. It took me months to decide because I thought I was too old to change my life.
What a stupid thought. You are never too old to change professions. Especially not at 23!
There are so many people finding a new passion in their retirement. And they are still young enough to start a new project.
If something doesn’t make you happy anymore or even depresses you, then take the risk of changing.
Of course, you don’t like change, and you fear failing. And you will fail. But that’s how you grow and improve.
When I changed professions and started studying architecture at 23, I failed. Because I was a beginner again, and beginners fail to improve.
However, one thought first:
Don’t cancel after a month at work. The first few months are usually to get used to the company, tasks, and people. Don’t expect to get your dream tasks immediately after starting.
- Try out different things
- Stay with the same company but change tasks or teams
- Make small changes at your current job
Don’t give up easily! Life can be tough sometimes, even in your dream job.
My part-time job next to my studies didn’t make me happy, and it was in the same profession I want to work in the future. But it was not because of the work itself, but because of the people, the money, and the fact that I had to exchange time for money.
I’m sure I want to stay in that profession, but I’m now working on my online income, so I don’t have to exchange my time for money anymore.
You can do it too. You shouldn’t go all in and change your whole life, especially if you have people relying on you.
But make small changes and try out new things.
“The biggest risk is not taking any risk… in a world that is changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks.”
— Mark Zuckerberg
Take the risk so you stop feeling lost
Do you think you are going to regret not doing it now? Go out of your comfort zone.
I know regret is a sh*tty feeling. Especially for things you cannot change.
Don’t let that happen to you.
If you are unhappy where you are: don’t stay!
And don’t listen to other people or society (as long as they are not where you want to be in the future). They think they want the best for you, but you have to live with the regret. They don’t want you to change.
If they love you, they will love you also after you take the risk. Taking a risk now is better than regretting it later.
Even though I had friends in my hometown, I had to leave, find myself, and experience the world.
In the end, it is only you who has to live with yourself.
Life is change
Taking risks and making changes is normal. You have to do them to become the best version of yourself. To move forward.
I know it’s not always easy. Leaving relationships and the comfortable, familiar environment behind.
If you want to improve and become more successful, you have to let go and change.
And you are never too old to change. This is just an excuse in your mind. Your whole life is about change.
- People come and go
- Tasks and jobs are changing
- Relationships change
- You are improving your skills
- You learn new things
- New inventions
Life is changing until the end. So it’s never too late to go with it.
Don’t fight it!
This is something you cannot change and have to accept; otherwise, you will be miserable your whole life.
In the end: everything will work itself out
I believe that the universe (or god) has a plan for all of us, and you are always at the right place at the right time. There’s a reason.
Therefore, you shouldn’t stress yourself out about having everything figured out after university. You don’t.
- You will grow
- You will improve
- You will change
- You will experience life
- You will have ups and downs
- You will fail
- You will get opportunities
Don’t worry about figuring out your passion when you are young. Try out new things, and you will find them.
If something doesn’t work for you, don’t hesitate to take the risk and start something new.
And one important tip at the end:
Don’t listen to other people if they are not where you want to be in the future!
They are the ones who haven’t figured it out either and are just jealous that you want to take the risk to start something new.
“Someday, everything will make perfect sense. So for now, laugh at the confusion, smile through the tears, be strong and keep reminding yourself that everything happens for a reason.”
— John Mayer
Less Stress. More Time. Less Overwhelmed!
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