You make $65,000 (USD 🤢) in a dead end career doing nothing but showing up sometimes. Guaranteed employment without change in intensity or salary until retirement in 15 years at age 62. You receive 3 weeks paid vacation, reasonably priced medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401k matched at 2.5%, and virtually unlimited sick days as long as you don’t call out too often (>3x month). You are given 6 college credits per semester to use at the local university. You’re currently working on a PhD.
You live comfortably and have 1 year’s salary saved. Zero dependents.
Do you ride it out, or do you seek a career change before it’s too late.
I know, infinite unknown variables, but what would you do regardless?
UPDATE: I’m slightly taken aback by how many of you actually took the time out of your day/evening to reply to my personal crisis. I’ve think I’ve replied to everyone, which, in doing so, made this morning surprisingly sunnier. So thanks for that.
Adding some thing I’ve shared in replies. I’m a homeowner with zero debt aside from a very affordable mortgage. Purchased my car outright new in 2024, had household concerns addressed over past five years (new roof, HVAC systems, sump pump, water heater, shed, remodeled bathrooms), have three degrees, and a lifetime of piss poor fortune.
But that’s just it. Whether you’re a gamer killing time at home or a monk in a cave at the top of a mountain meditating, or a frontline Red Cross Volunteer or a treacherous villain, ultimately, if you’re not actively hurting others, you are the only standard you have to measure yourself by.
Who’s to say what you’re supposed to make? If you’re supposed to make. We’re all just animals at the end of the day.
You might try looking into Taoism. 365 Tao is how I got started, meant to be read one page a day. It’s what redirected my energy. It teaches that the ultimate state of being should feel effortless and that there is a path within that will comfortably guide you to happiness and it’s all about finding that path for yourself.
The less you use the world as a measuring stick for yourself, the less you will feel like you don’t measure up.
I’ve been passively studying stoicism for the pest few years, and while some of the strategies meant for dealing with certain aspects of my psyche (like envisioning a stop sign when feeling triggered), others sound a bit too defeatist to me. Committing oneself to any singular concept is the fall of man, so I’ll definitely look into Taoism after your recommendation. Thanks!