Peter: Our high school guidance counselor used to ask us what you'd do if you had a million dollars and you didn't have to work. And invariably what you'd say was supposed to be your career. So if you wanted to fix old cars then you're supposed to be an auto mechanic.
Samir: So what did you say?
Peter: I never had an answer. I guess that's why I'm working at Initech.
-- Office Space (1999)
Wow, another year has come and gone, and it's already 2011!
A new year often brings desires to change things in our lives and in ourselves that haven't served us well in the past years, often called "New Year's Resolutions." Some of the most common New Year's Resolutions are to lose weight, quit bad habits, become more organized and spend more time with loved ones. However, for many young adults, the new year brings questions about life path and career goals.
As a young adult in your 20s and 30s, you question if you have made the right choice with your career. Every weekday in Century City, many nicely dressed young men and women are seen taking breaks, walking on Avenue of the Stars with their co-workers or on a business call. If this is you, how did you end up here? Did you land your dream position, or settle for a job because of the income? Are you living your passion or do you question if there is something more, a different path you could have chosen?
And just a short distance away, recent UCLA graduates are having similar experiences. If this is you, there were promises of dream jobs waiting at the other end of graduation. But suddenly it's 2011 and you're unemployed, back home living with your parents, searching Craigslist and Monster.com daily for something to get you some money and meaning.
These experiences are not uncommon. In 2001, Alexandra Robbins and Abby Wilner wrote the book"Quarterlife Crisis: The Unique Challenges of Life in Your Twenties."
This book is about how, as a modern day young adult, you struggle differently than previous generations. Your parents worked directly out of high school or college and had kids right away, not having time to think about life-path. You, however, may have had difficulty finding a job after graduation because of the economy, or may be at a high-paying job you settled for.
Because approximately 40% of you have seen your parents get divorced, you may choose to get married and have kids later than your parents to avoid the same fate. You were raised in the MTV generation, with movies like Office Space, where happiness and pleasure are a necessity, and working a meaningless job or quickly marrying someone with potential misery is unthinkable. This can create a great deal of thought about and pressure on the next step in life, and you may have had periods of anxiety, depression, frustration and feeling stuck.
What can be done about this career and life-path confusion in this new year? Borrowing silly advice from the high school guidance counselor Peter speaks of in Office Space, what would you do if you never had to earn money? Would you prefer to stay at your high-rise job or stay in your PJs till noon on your parents couch?
Or is there something completely different you'd love to pursue?
As a therapist, I have seen people of all ages, including those in their late 60s, go through the same training as me, which I find deeply inspiring. It's never too late to realize your dreams!
Another suggestion is to freely try new things—don't spend too much time ruminating over whether or not you've made the right decision. It's a new year, it's time to explore your passions! Even if it means making less money or waking up before noon!
