Does this sound anything like you?
I
did not grow up wanting to be a lawyer, just ended up there because I had
good grades and was attracted to the (comparatively) big salary. Now I'm
in my late 30s and desperately want to do something meaningful. But I have
obligations, have acquired a lifestyle. So I lack the courage to change
completely, to give up the big salary, even though I know I could be much
happier living another life . . . but how to get there?
Here are a
selection of suggestions from different people:
* You say you want
your work to be "meaningful". I cannot think of any work I would describe
that way, except possibly farming, teaching and nursing. All office work
fails this test horribly.
* Your predicament
says more about you than about your job – I suspect you are generally fed
up with life. When I get depressed my job seems pointless too. Once I perk
up the job starts to seem better too.
* You need to ask
yourself other, more practical things about the law. Are you good at it?
Do you actually hate it? If so, why? And, most importantly, what else
could you do that you would like better? This is where you come unstuck.
As you do not seem to have a fantasy (mine is about teaching maths), you
would do better not to change career, but change your attitude towards it
instead.
* If you insist on
clinging to your (optimistic) view that you would be happier in another
job, try this. For the next six months live like a pauper on half your
salary. And in every minute of spare time, actively research the other
things you could do. Use your legal background to work for an NGO or do
legal aid work. Or consider something else altogether: become an organic
ostrich farmer.
* Ten years ago I quit
my well-paid job and became a photographer. My friends called me crazy.
But I emerged after years of commitment to my art at greater peace with
myself than if I hadn't started the journey. Art is nothing without
context. The context is commitment. My advice: jump. Don't worry if the
bungee cord is attached or not.
* Solving the problems
of clients and maintaining the legal rights of people and indeed the
nation is one of the most important, interesting and challenging careers
in the
UK. There are few jobs as interesting or "meaningful". You need to count
your blessings and give yourself a good talking to.
* Start a family. This
may give purpose and reason to paying the mortgage.
