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Tuning into oneself requires open time and space.

Choosing a path that is right for you provides emotional sustenance.

Developing your own interests can be an antidote to social comparison.

At work, my mentor said it’s a good idea to develop an area of interest. How do I know what’s right for me?

I don’t love my job, but I need the steady paycheck. I need to do something outside of work that feels meaningful to me. Or maybe I should just join a gym? I don’t even know …

All education and careers come with some amount of burdensome work. That is unavoidable. Sometimes the best option isn’t the most interesting, but the one that is most stable, or the one that provides a positive environment.

Then, there are moments in life when an area of concentration becomes possible, whether at work or during your free time. It can feel overwhelming when life provides possibilities, and you are supposed to sort through which one to choose. Deciding which path to travel is not inconsequential. Identifying an interest that will be sustaining can feel tricky.

In these situations, it’s easy to push up against “should”. I “should” specialize in this field because it will look good on my resume. I “should” be part of this project team because it is the most prestigious. I “should” spend my precious free time in a recommended activity, even though I don’t like it that much. The “should” focuses on outside forces, instead of looking........

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