Feeling Legitimate and The Happiness Project

Currently reading "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin. Picked it up after seeing a nice review. I usually steer clear of self-help books so I was surprised when the sales lady took this from the self-help section. Surprised again that it's really a nice read, not preachy, which I dislike about self-help books.

Naka-relate ako as early as page 72 (out of 289), here's the author, a lawyer thinking about being a writer, talking to her sister, a TV writer:

"I worry about feeling legitimate," I confessed. "Working in something like law or finance or politics would make me feel legitimate."

I expected her to say something like "Writing is legitimate" or "You can switch to something else if you don't like it," but she was far more astute.

"You know," she said, "you've always had this desire for legitimacy, and you'll have it forever. It's probably why you went to law school. But should you let it determine your next job?"

"Well..."

"You've already done highly legitimate things, like clerking on the Supreme Court, but do you feel legitimate?"

"Not really."

"So you probably never will. Okay. Just don't let that drive your decisions."

After that, she took one more "legal" job then started her career as a writer.

"Leaving law to become a writer was the most important step I ever took to "Be Gretchen." I'd decided to do what I wanted to do, and I ignored options that, no matter how enticing they might be for other people, weren't right for me."

It's been four years since I passed the Bar. While I am very very grateful for this blessing and have an okay job that pays the bills, I still don't have a clear idea of my career path. I can't imagine years and years of doing what I do now. I don't know if I should just switch jobs or switch fields altogether. I don't know. But the above passage has got me thinking. Ayayay.