To ask you for advice and bluntness to help me out of this slump and make up my mind?

[JamAndClottedCream]

Hi all. I am currently not working at the minute. Due to mental health problems and a nasty breakdown at work, I decided I couldn't cope any more with it and left. As a side note, I am taking ADs and have had counselling.

I am really in a slump. I am so miserable and feel isolated, not to mention ashamed and stupid for leaving my job because of having a breakdown. For the past few months to keep myself occupied I have taken to baking. At first it was just something to keep my day filled, but I have actually got really good at it. I have tried baking more and more news things, given myself challenges and I enjoy it. I give my baked goods away to family and friends and they all remark on how lovely they are. Some people have even made requests for birthday parties, and yesterday 2 family members squabbled over the last caramel square!

Anyway, I enjoy this so much and I keep having a niggling feeling that I should work towards making a career out of it. I have looked up a patisserie and confectionary course in my local college starting in September for one year. There is something in my minding stopping me from going for it. Fear. I have no confidence whatsoever and fear I will muck up this course and not be able to perform the practical assignments (ie the actual baking in the classes) while I am being examined. Therefore failing.

The other thing is as well, when I mention casually to other people (usually when they comment on whatever treat I have baked) I am thinking of going for this, some of them will give me raised eyebrows and a funny stare, as if to say "why??". And sort of mumble a "Oh right, great..." Before either going silent or changing the subject. My dp is chopping and changing his mind about how he feels about it. Sometimes he will tell me to go for it, it makes me happy and I'd be great at it, other times it will be "I would focus on getting a job for which you have qualifications and experience for" (I'm doing this anyway), and sometimes it will be "I don't know, it's up to you"

I know it shouldn't, but the lack of support puts me off doing the course, as well as having no confidence. I am looking for a new job that suits my qualifications, but I think I desperately need a career change too and this could possibly be a chance to do it, and make myself happier in the long run.

I guess what I'm asking for is either a kick up the arse to go and do the sodding course and fuck everyone else, or be handed a grip to just stick to what I know, concentrate on that rather than following a pipedream.

Do it. You've nothing to lose.

Wow quite a lot of replies! Thank you all so much. I have been thinking about it all day. The thought of setting up a stall makes me excited (and a bit scared). I would really love that as a career change, and this course would really help me perfect my skills. I know it would take a very long time to make this happen but I think I could do a decent job of it.

But the question is- could I really do it?! Obviously none of you know the answer to that and I have to ask myself could I apply myself and put a lot of hard work and dedication into something I love.

In my heart of hearts I know I could, but there's a voice in my head telling me not to be so stupid, I will fail and never in a million years would people pay to eat my products. How do I shut it up??

People already pay/have asked you to make things for them. Your heart is right you can do this and that pesky little voice every time it starts sing really loudly so you can't hear it, it will get fed up when it realises you are not listening.

You will do far more than a decent job of your baking venture I am sure, all the best to you.

Dunno how to make that little voice shut up. I think everyone has one, just some people manage to pay no attention and ignore it. I think that listening to it and acting on what it says, just makes it stringer and more insistent. You could say feeds it.

Soooo, doing the course, gaining confidence in your baking skills may help you to ignore it . You still have to make that effort to ignore it, but be assured, it gets easier the more you practice ignoring it.

You have already noticed that excitement and fear are pretty much the same thing, it just depends how you let yourself think about it.

All the best, xx

What would happen if you couldn't do it? Because in all honesty, you can't really fail, because there isn't a set script here. You enjoy baking, a course will make you better. If you don't pass all of the sections, you will still be better. So that's not a fail. Even if you never do anything more than that.

If you make things and sell them at a stall, that's not a fail. Even if you only cover your costs and not make money out of it, you will still enjoy it, get more baking experience, and some people would enjoy your products.

If you start baking cakes and slices for a local café - small part time work, it's not a fail. Someone is paying you for your cakes.

So really, no matter what you do here, you will pass with flying colours. Because ANYTHING positive out of it, is a pass!!!

Go for it!!!!

OP bear in mind that studies have shown that successful people fail just as much as unsuccessful people. They just pick themselves up and carry on. Like at Richard Branson. That bloke careens from disaster to disaster and is still a millionaire. You will have some small failures, even maybe some big ones. They are all just learning.