Many of us have got it wrong. So very wrong. It’s not our fault. It’s in the way we were raised, the way our education system reared us and the priorities of the society we inhabit. We’ve all been raised from childhood to chase one thing… The Almighty Dollar. We’re not just conditioned but encouraged to enslave ourselves to it. We’re taught to value the acquisition of wealth above all else and find meaning almost exclusively in its accrual and spending. Now, the acquisition and spending of money are not inherently evil in and of themselves. We live in a consumer capitalist society, after all, and unless people feed the wheel of capitalism it all grinds to a halt. We shouldn’t feel guilty for the money we have any more than we should enjoy spending it, but the way in which we’ve been taught to find pleasure in spending and acquiring material possessions is actually kind of perverse. In the wonderful documentary film The Minimalists, it’s revealed that a lifetime spent chasing money and material goods can actually be damaging to our relationships (especially with ourselves) and leave us feeling shallow, empty and unfulfilled.
If you spent your teen years or twenties more concerned with which jobs, skills, qualifications and career paid best rather than which gave you the most personal fulfillment, if you reached a point where you have everything you thought you ever wanted yet still feel unfulfilled and frustrated it’s likely that you find yourself…
Wanting something more
Capitalism is not a social evil nor is it inherently bad to enjoy having nice things. But in an increasingly capricious economic climate, it can seem like no matter how hard we work in the pursuit of money, it’s never enough. We work more and more hours, take on more and more responsibilities and invite more and more stress into our lives simply so that we can smile to ourselves when we look at our bank balance. Sure, we might also be able to afford some of the status symbols that society reminds us that we need to demonstrate our wealth and success to others like shiny cars, fancy clothes and a nice house, but ultimately this is all fancy window dressing on a fundamentally sad existence if you don’t genuinely love what you do. As you begin to fall further and further out of love with your job, your fancy possessions won’t be enough to console you when you come home late at night from all that overtime.
We often find out a little too late that we’re motivated not by money, but by a desire to help people. Altruism is a powerful human instinct and it leaves us feeling fulfilled in a much more meaningful way than collecting material possessions.
The good news is that it’s never too late, especially in the digital age, to change your career to pursue a more rewarding path. If you want to devote yourself to helping others, if you want to help to make the world a better place and if you want a job and career that show how much you give a damn, you may find that with the aid of a little online learning or even going back to school, any of the following careers may be well within your reach…
Law enforcement
There are few more edifying ways of making a difference in your community than by becoming a professional in the world of law enforcement. While you may not have harbored a strong desire to be a beat cop, law enforcement is a broad and multidisciplinary church that encompasses a range of initiatives to help make your community a safer place using your unique skills, knowledge and experience. While you may have to compete with demanding shifts and difficult, stressful or dangerous work you will take comfort in knowing that you’re making the world a better place and providing a positive role model for the young people in your life. While we’ve established that money isn’t everything, law enforcement can give you the gift of financial stability and once you’ve progressed in your skills and career you can command an impressive wage.
Nursing
The medical profession is about as altruistic as it gets. The entire industry is dedicated to helping those in need. If the idea of helping people on a daily basis and improving the quality of life of those who are suffering, sick or in pain can propel you through demanding hours, long shifts and stressful conditions, the life of a nurse may well be for you. The great thing about nursing is that so long as you have a compassionate and patient persona, a willingness to learn and a good understanding of how our bodies work, there are a plethora of opportunities for you to qualify as a nurse via online learning. Plus, the multitasking skills you’ll glean from managing your studies alongside your day job will stand you in good stead for the intrinsic challenges of nursing where you’ll need to get really good at time management, multitasking and task prioritizing really quickly.
Moreover, if you feel that you’re stagnating in your career you can take the skills you’ve learned and take them to the free market as a nurse entrepreneur. Whatever your specialism, you can help to make the medical profession a better place by going into business for yourself.
First aid training
We’ve already established that if you want to make a positive difference in the lives of everyday people, you’d be hard pressed to find a better place to do so than in the healthcare industry. Yet, while you may not have the time or inclination to study to become a doctor or nurse, there are still ways in which you can impart medical wisdom and help to make the world a better place through the magic of first aid training.
If you have a love of teaching, experience in employee training and a flair for entrepreneurship, you can set up your own first aid training company. Of course, before you do this essential to find an AHA CPR class near me and learn the skills yourself. When you have developed a talent for first aid you’ll be ready to share your skills with workplaces and community groups throughout the land. Click here for more info on becoming a certified CPR instructor. You can help make the world a safer place and save lives one CPR class at a time.
Teaching
Children are the future and the key to a brighter, happier future is ensuring that our kids have the best possible start in life. With this in mind, there’s no greater privilege than being able to empower and shape young minds, imbuing them with the knowledge and skills that they’ll need to forge successful futures for themselves when they grow up. The great thing about teaching is how welcoming it is to those who have come from other professions. After all, your industry experience and time outside the world of education can help you to better prepare young minds for the challenges of adult life.
If you already have a bachelor’s degree, getting onto a teacher training course is fairly straightforward although it pays to take some time out of your schedule to spend some time volunteering in a local school, working with an age group that’s pertinent to you. While teaching is often very challenging work it is one of the most rewarding vocations a person can enter into and seeing young minds develop, learn and grow before your very eyes is a true privilege.
Social work
Social workers are the part of glue that holds societies together. They are dedicated foot soldiers in a never ending battle for safe, happy and healthy communities. They protect the vulnerable, most often children, and help to ensure that future generations are as healthy and happy outside of school as inside.
If you achieved a bachelor’s degree in any field, the great news is that a qualification is within your grasp and you could be a practicing social worker sooner than you might think. A BA is all it takes to enrol in an online master of social work degree which could be your first step in pursuing an extremely rewarding career. Moreover, going into the profession at master’s level will empower you with advanced knowledge you’ll need to navigate the challenge of life as a social worker while giving you a leading edge in the competitive field of job applications. With just 2 and a half years of diligent study in your free time, you too could become a social worker and make a vital difference in your community.
Veterinary care
Finally, what’s more rewarding than working with animals? As important as it is to look out for our fellow human beings, it’s essential that we spare a thought for the other species with which we share the planet. With a plethora of qualifications in veterinary nursing available online you could soon spend your days working with sick and injured animals and helping to educate pet owners on how to better take care of the furry, feathered and scaly friends in their charge.
Life’s too short to spend behind a desk waiting for an opportunity to do more with your life. Get out there and create your own opportunities!
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