Ambition

[GinevraWeasley]

Was anyone else bought up being told that they're ambitious but have realised that actually they're not and it was just something you were conditioned to believe?

I was expected to go to Uni and have a high flying career. I have had a relatively successful career and earn a decent salary. However I'm now in my thirties and I would love to do something I would actually enjoy but every idea I have is low paid.

Not only do I feel trapped in this mindset that I need to have a career but I would have to take a substantial pay cut for any of the jobs I am thinking of. This would result in a big lifestyle change for both me and my husband as I am currently the higher earner and any any future pay increases he will receive in future would be minor. Adding trying to conceive into the mix and I just feel stuck in a career that I don't enjoy.

Has anyone else felt like this and how did they escape?

Bump

I have never been ambitious and great things have never been expected of me. I was the first in my family (DF is one of 9, I have 22 cousins) to go to university. I had an unhappy adolescence and left UK at 23 to travel. 44 now and still don't know what I want to do still no ambition.

I have little (not a homeowner, for eg) but there is a lot of love in my life now and I put up with zero shit from friends/family.

I hope you can find a peace that suits you and what you want.

Are you me?? I am in this position too, but I can't even think of a new job I could do!!

My family had very high expectations of me (and my older sister before me), I was expected to work hard and do well at the very good school they sent me to, go to Uni and then onto a well paid, professional job. I did work hard and do well at school (I loved the school)but was a mediocre student at Uni and totally lacked ambition. I worked in a call centre for a few years and progressed but tbh never really made a massive effort. I never earned really well but did okay. When dp qualified we moved and I started a craft business. It was a big pay cut but at a time that dp had a big pay rise so our modest standard of living was more or less the same. I'm a SAHM now. My mother is probably turning in her grave.
I suppose I am ambitious in that I wanted the business to do well and worked hard at it, but never needed huge profits or expansion or recognition to be satisfied. I want to be the best SAHM I can be too, but that doesn't really matter to anyone but us!

@toomuchfaster have you got a plan to escape?

I've got about 3 job ideas that I would like to try to go for. I am sure I would love all 3 of them.

@GinevraWeasley No plan, not much hope either at the moment. Have applied for a new job, but in the same professional sphere. What are your jobs, maybe I can help you narrow it down?