Should I Follow My Dreams or Get A 'Real' Job?

The question we all ask ourselves: should I go with my head or heart? Should I chase after that dream job or take the safe route? You can either be a realist or and idealist when it comes to life, or even a bit of both. If you're somewhere in the middle, you might find yourself stuck on which career path to choose. How do you give yourself the best life possible? Do you follow your dreams and find eternal happiness? Or choose the safe route and have guaranteed financial security?

There are pros and cons to both so if you're unsure whether you should take that risk and follow your dream or play it safe, it's important to compare your options:

Pros of Following Your Dreams:

• You'll wake up everyday getting to do what you love.
• Can you live your life knowing that you didn't go after the one thing you always wanted? By following your dreams you're staying true to yourself and potentially having the life you've always dreamt of. If you can dream it, you can achieve it and if you want it bad enough, there's no reason why you can’t have it.
• You will have a constant drive to achieve and reach your goals because you're working for yourself.
• You're potentially creating a better and happier life for yourself by doing what you love and what you were born to do. If you’re skilled in a particular area then you owe it to yourself to pursue it and make the most of your skill and talent.

Cons of Following Your Dream:

• It may not guarantee financial security. This is where the realist part of me would advise you to plan carefully to make sure you have a secure future for yourself. I highly recommend following your dreams however I know it's very important to have financial security. Just make sure your dream can assure you security in life too.
• It may take a lot longer to go down this route rather than the 'traditional' job route. Overnight successes rarely happen and a lot of successful people have worked very hard every single day for years to get close to their dreams. If you're chasing your dream then you more than likely have a lot of drive and ambition so this shouldn't be a problem, but just be aware it may take you longer to reach a steady income in life if you're going after a big dream.
• It may be harder to actually make your dream a reality than to choose a steady job.

As you can see there are a lot of pros to following your dream, and being a big dreamer myself, I highly recommend that if you're passionate about something then you should go after it full speed ahead. That's not to say that a 'normal' job may not be for you either, so here's a list of pros and cons of going down the 'safe' career route.

Pros of A 'Safe' Career:

• *Almost* guaranteed financial security. Not every job can guarantee you a good pay cheque but you're more likely to have a stable income sooner if you choose the school-university-job route. It's no secret that we live in a world where we need money to survive so it's a safer bet to choose a 'normal' job if money is your main focus.
• Security in the workplace. A lot of people start at entry level jobs and work their way up the career ladder and although no job is guaranteed, you may have more job security in the long run this way.

Cons of A 'Safe' Career:

• If you're choosing a job purely because it's safe and will make you money, you could end up very unhappy in life. Money does not equate to happiness and you should never make a decision based on it. We all like to be safe but stepping out of your comfort zone is so important especially when it comes to your career.
• The 'safe' job may not be the job you really want and therefor it could negatively impact your mental health. An unhappy job can really affect your state of mind so choose carefully when it comes to your career path. Life is long, so make sure you're doing something that you love.

While I'm not qualified to tell you exactly what to do with your life, I strongly urge you to find your passion and fight to make it your livelihood, whether that's through an untraditional route or the standard job route. You are responsible for giving yourself the best damn life possible and doing that by any means. Follow your dream and make it a reality.

Read: 10 Reasons Why You Should Follow Your Dreams

You Can Do Both

There's no reason why your dream career can't involve safety and financial security too. You can always work a 'normal' job while you're on the road to achieving your dream. Not only will you have some experience in the 'traditional' job field to fall back on but it will give you the funds to allow you to pursue your dream.

Inspire Yourself

A great way to help you decided on how to get started with your dream career is getting advice from others. I highly recommend a book by Aliza Licht called Leave Your Mark: Land your dream job. Kill it in your career. Rock social media. She gives great advice and guidance on how to kill it in your career and get your dream job at the same time. You'll feel hella inspired after reading this.

Another super inspiring book by Jen Sincero is You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life. It's a brilliant how-to guide on creating a life you love and make money doing it.

Go With Your Gut

A lot of people describe this predicament as choosing between your head or heart, however I'm telling you to ignore them both and follow your gut. Ever heard of a gut instinct? If you have a gut feeling about something, always go with it. Trust your gut, you can always try both career options or even work a day job and pursue your dream at the same time!

Happiness or Money?

It comes down to what your goal in life is and what you really want. Is your goal to make a lot of money? Is it your goal to have a fulfilling purpose? Although money is important, it shouldn't be a deciding factor in your life and happiness. Chase the dream, not the money. Your happiness is ultimately what matters, regardless of money or status. Choose the path where you wake up everyday feeling happy and fulfilled. 

Regardless if you're going for the safe job or the dream job, don't be the person who says, 'What if', be the person who says, 'I did.'

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8 Ways to Stay Motivated When You Want to Quit

Have you ever felt like you wanted to quit everything? Everyone in life has faced a time when they've wanted to quit. However, quitting is a permanent solution to a temporary problem, and if you feel like quitting right now, here's why you shouldn't.

I had a MAJOR wanting to quit moment this week. I started a new course and to be honest, it wasn't at all what I'd hoped for. I did it because there were certain modules I was excited to study but after the first day, I realised it could be a long time before I get to do any of the things I signed up for. I came home that evening with a very heavy head and went into 'wanting to quit' mode.

I was so convinced that I wanted to quit everything and drop out that very minute. What changed my mind? Time. I asked myself the following questions and really assessed if this was something I wanted to go through with and if it was going to better my life in the long term.

Read 'The Secret' by Rhonda Byrne to discover your true meaning in life.

If you feel like you want to quit your job or drop out of university or college, or even quit that diet that you've started, take some time to clear your head and ask yourself these questions:

1. Why did I sign up for this in the first place?

When you reach a point where you feel like quitting, ask yourself why you wanted to do this in the first place. Were you excited about making this your future? Are you passionate about it? Has it been a big interest in your life so far? Go back to the very beginning of when you first started thinking about whatever it is you're doing right now. When you feel like quitting, just remember why you started.

2. Am I being too swift to make a decision?

It's normal to feel uncertain about new things. You've made a big change in your life and part of you will always want to revert back to what you're used to, your comfort zone. This is when you need to fight through those early stages of doubt and give it a chance. It's hard to make a good judgement on a new situation or environment in the first couple of days or weeks. Give it time and see how your feelings change, you might end up growing to like it.

3. Think of the end result

Imagine your life when you complete your goal. You could end up losing that weight, or completing that degree or getting that step up the job ladder or whatever it is you're working towards. Envision your future and what it'll be like if you decide not to quit. If you can see the results in your head it can spur you on to keep working for it. If it leads to a better future and greater happiness in life then don't give up.

4. Who are you doing it for?

Are you doing this to please others? Are you doing it to fulfil someone else's dreams? The main person you should be doing it for is you. There's no point following a dream if it's not your own. Remember that you're doing this for your future self. If you're not, then you need to reassess your options and follow your true meaning.

Read: How to discover your true meaning in life

5. Surround yourself with motivation

There are tons of people who have wanted to quit in life but the successful ones are those who didn't. Even if it's just reading some inspirational quotes or reading a motivational book to change your mind set, surround yourself with positivity and motivation and you'll reignite the drive to succeed within yourself. A great self help book about the law of attraction and succeeding in life is The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. A lot of people have said this book has changed their life so it's definitely worth a read!

Read The Secret:

6. Find a solution to the reason you want to quit

Really ask yourself why you want to quit. Is it because you find it boring? Are you too tired from working at it? Do you need a break? Instead of packing it in altogether, find solutions to the problems you're facing. Take a break when you need it, find ways to make it more interesting, talk to someone about it. Once you get to the core reason for wanting to quit, focus on how to make that better.

• If you're a blogger and you're feeling a bit overwhelmed with how to get your blog off the ground and running, check out the Career in the Making Ebook by Krista Aoki, she'll help you get your blog to where you want to be.

7. Don't let a bad start put you off from finishing the race

You might of had a crappy first day but that doesn't mean you should judge the rest of your time based on that. Things will get better, it takes time to adjust to new environments. It's common to go into fight or flight mode when you're in an unsure situation. Try to fight those feelings of wanting to give up and find the power to keep going.

8. Believe in yourself

As cheesy as it sounds, believe in yourself! Look how far you've made it and all you've achieved so far, it'd be such a shame to throw that all away due to some negative feelings. You have the strength to keep working hard and achieving your goals and you will reach that end result.

It's normal to feel like quitting when things get tough, it's a natural response mechanism. Keep going and fulfil what you started and just remember that it won't be like this forever. Once you reach your end goal you'll thank yourself so much for sticking with it. 

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This post contains affiliate links which means I make a small commission through sales but this doesn't cost you anything :)

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Why People Are Afraid Of Change (and How To Be More Accepting of it)

Change is good. Change is scary. Change is inevitable. 

How we deal with change is what defines us. How we embrace change is what makes us. We can run from change, avoid it all costs, but it always catches up with us and we have no choice but to face it head on. We often avoid change because the outcome is uncertain, it's easier to stick with what we're used to. I'm going to talk a bit about dealing with change in relationships, change in work and life decisions that can lead to huge changes within ourselves.

I get scared of new situations, whether it's work or education. When I'm going to be in a place where I'm surrounded by new people, I get anxious. I don't know the outcome, I don't know if I'll get along with anybody or if I'll fit in there, but it's something I have to face. Can you notice a similarity in my thought process? We quickly imagine the worst case scenario when it comes to change. We think up all the possibilities that could go wrong and make it hard for us, but we never really focus on the positives. Instead of thinking that I might meet some amazing people, I might make great friendships and I might experience an amazing change in my life, I immediately fear for the worst.

Want to make change in your life? Read 'Change Your Mind: 57 Ways To Unlock Your Creative Self'

It's ok to be scared of change. It's ok to be afraid of the unknown. It's human to feel that way.

So many people stay in toxic relationships because they're scared of what will happen when it ends. They've become so dependent on someone who they know is having a negative impact on their life, however, they physically can't leave them because they're scared of how their life will change when the relationship ends. They choose to hold on to something that's bad for them because they don't know how they'll cope with the change of being on their own. 

I've experienced this myself. 

I spent years with someone who had a mental hold on me, critiqued my weight and my appearance, had little respect for me. My life outside the relationship wasn't great either but I couldn't make myself leave that person over the fear of not being able to cope on my own, fear of the change that was to come. I thankfully was able to leave the relationship behind and move on with my own life and although the change was difficult, it was something that needed to be done. And even though more negatives than positives came out of that relationship, it changed me as a person and made me so much stronger and I gained the respect for myself to walk away from toxic situations.

Leaving a toxic job is also a big decision a lot of people face. Like I mentioned earlier, it can be easier to put up with a negative work environment than to risk leaving your job and actually finding something you enjoy. I used to work so hard at a job that pretty much made me miserable and I'm currently taking steps to change that. The work hours were good, the pay was decent but I was so unhappy and it's only fair to myself if I choose to change that part of my life.

Not quite sure what to do with your life yet? Read this

I get scared of the future. I'm comfortable in my life at the moment. I live in a nice house, I have my family close by, I have a dog that I love to pieces. However, I haven't fulfilled everything in my own life yet. I know I'm probably going to have to move away for work opportunities in the future and leave the life I'm used to behind for a while, and that scares me. It would be easier if I chose a smaller life and stay where I am. But life isn't about taking the easy route. It's so important to fight that feeling and push yourself through the anxiety that comes along with change.

 As humans we're built to adjust to our surroundings, we're built to adapt to changes.

I always say you choose the life you're living. If I'm unhappy in life, it's because of choices I've made and I'm the only one who can change it. The changes I make determine the life I have. So if you're unhappy in life or afraid to make a big change that could lead to much greater happiness, you owe it to yourself to put that change into action and live the life you deserve. You deserve to be happy and you have the power to make that change.

Read Change Your Mind: 57 Ways To Unlock Your Creative Self

Have you ever faced a difficult change in your life?

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I'm Sick of Social Media

Time for a bit of truth: I'm sick of social media. Social media can be an absolutely brilliant thing if used correctly but it can also have a hugely negative impact on your life and mental health and I've experienced that to the fullest recently. No matter how many times I've tried to disconnect from the internet or avoid my phone, I always find myself scrolling aimlessly through instagram and twitter. Social media has become an addiction to our generation and it's an addiction no one wants to beat. 

I wake up. I check my phone, check my emails, check instagram, check twitter, check youtube. Repeat. This seems to be the recurring theme every single day and for some reason I can't get out of it. Even if I'm watching a TV show or reading a book, two minutes in I'll be reaching for my phone, without even realising, to do the subconscious mandatory social media scroll. 

I'm not someone who gets validation through likes or views, to be honest I couldn't care less how many likes I get, it makes no difference to my life whatsoever. I don't scroll through social media looking to see new followers or more engagement, I think I do it because I'm subconsciously looking for something more interesting than the last thing I read, something to distract me from life for a while. 

Loneliness doesn't exist like it used to in our generation. You can be completely alone yet have an abundance of entertainment and people to follow and live your life through theres. No one sees the danger in this until it's too late. You've spent so long on social media you've missed out on living your own life. 

See also: 10 reasons you should consider going to counseling

I feel like I have social media drilled into me. Anywhere I go I immediately try and see if I can get a good instagram of myself or the surroundings, as if it's essential to make a perfect portfolio of my life online. I was in a cafe last week and I tried to pick the seat that had the best lighting so I could get a good picture for instagram. What the hell is wrong with me?! How have I gotten to this point where I live my life according to the standards of what's popular on social media. Not to mention the amount of time I spend applying filters in several different apps to make sure the picture blends in with my instagram theme. Life doesn't come with a theme! Who cares! And if I haven't posted in a week and I see my followers go down, it's like a subliminal pressure to please these strangers on the internet who I have no obligations to. It almost feels like I have a group of people that I have to go out of my way to keep happy. 

Part of me would love to delete all of my social media and disappear from the internet completely. Go off the grid, start living in the world. It's amounted to so much pressure and stress that I find it very hard to enjoy it anymore. I enjoy writing and being creative, it's just a shame that I have to be part of the social media circus that comes along with it. I don't want to completely disappear off the internet because it gives me a voice, it enables me to write about things I care for. I'm still trying to find a way to manage the stressful side of social media so I can still the enjoy to freedom of creating.

A great way for me to de-stress and relax when I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed is to read. Reading really relaxes my mind and takes me away from the pressures of social media. At the minute I'm reading The Year I Met You by Cecelia Ahern, it's a great a book and you should check out some of her other books if you're into reading too.

Social media gives me no fulfilment, if anything it has drained me and had a hugely negative affect on my mental health. I find myself in a negative headspace, more times than what's healthy, due to being attached to this thing that I can't seem to let go of. If I wasn't in the blogging/social media world I definitely wouldn't use any social media apps at all, but it's something that's mandatory in this field of work.

See also: The benefits of talking to a therapist

I've never finished scrolling through social media and felt happy and inspired, in fact I'm always left feeling down and depressed from it. Yet myself, along with millions of others who are affected by it, can't seem to help it. We know it's bad for us but it constantly reels us back in without realising. It's an addictive cycle and it's one I've come to hate.

I guess I'm just tired of it all. I'm tired of being tired. I don't have a solution to it yet but I'm working to find a way to use social media more effectively as a work tool rather than in my personal life.

I'd love to know your thoughts on this and if social media has affected you in a similar way.

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