Lately, I’ve been filling my free time with endless thoughts. Overthinking about each and every branch of my future career and life path, and the various hurdles needed to surpass to get there. Wherever ‘there’ is. It’s tiring, overwhelming and ultimately I’m not sure I’m closer to making a ‘decision’, but perhaps closer to a ‘direction’.
I’m in an incredibly lucky position, something I need to remind myself of more often, because I have unlimited choice. I have freedom and the foundation to be pretty much whatever I want to be. I’ll likely end up happy in most of those paths, because I’ve learned to be happy in myself rather than what happens to me on the outside. Which almost makes things harder – there’s no single ‘right’ choice.
My barber likens this phenomenon to an all-you-can-eat buffet. In the previous generation, the number of cuisines and dishes on the table were limited. It was easier to compare individual choices and choose one. As time has gone on, the number of cuisines and dishes on the table has exponentially risen. They’ve become more accessible with globalisation. What compounds this choice anxiety is that we can now more easily experience what would have happened if we’d chosen the other cuisine, or the other dish. We can compare with others at the press of a fingertip through the internet, learning about people at earlier or later life stages, choosing the same or different cuisines or dishes. Seeing all these other choices play out and work out well gives us the impression we may have made the wrong choices; reminding us we could have chosen a better dish. The truth is that all cuisines have incredible dishes, and everyone has different tastes, preferences and dietary requirements. Learning to enjoy what’s on the plate in front of you takes practice, and might be easier if you don’t focus on all the other choices you could have made.
The internet has given me a wealth of information to consume when I try to find out what career paths I can take as a doctor. I got tired after reading article after article. But I did learn some things which I will try to take with me as I make my own path. Being a doctor is a role that has lots of moving parts; lots of factors to consider. Lives are so complex. We are learning evermore information about the human body. It is very difficult to keep up with all of the latest advances and projects people are leading to improve healthcare. Everyone wants a better healthcare system, a better NHS, and some people are doing really good work to try and contribute to that. It’s inspiring, but also daunting, because it seems like everything you can think of has been done already.
I came across a unique approach to guiding career choices – to go from the inside-out, i.e. to start with me and who I am, rather than try and pick a random path and follow it blindly.
- I have always believed in kindness
- I have always believed I am incredibly lucky and fortunate to be who I am
- I have always dreamed of being part a happy and loving family
- I love learning about new things
- I love novelty and trying new things
- I feel most comfortable when I am being wholly myself, in a forgiving environment that embraces curiosity
When I write this list, it brings me peace in making big decisions. It helps remind me that lots of paths will meet this criteria. It also helps remind me when to leave and look for a path that gives me the above. So, whatever path I do end up falling upon, I will do my very best to continue matching myself to what I am doing.
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