To have chosen a job in the city over a vocation?

[DaughterOfTheForest]

We live in a capitalist society and a job in finance pays more than jobs in many fields of science. Supposedly a big thing now is the environment and looking into sustainable and less polluting energy sources. I can’t help but think if people/the government really cared about it the pay would be more competitive...

Also why is anything good for humanity a “vocation”? We all know a good surgeon might have skill but no bedside manner. You don’t have to be lovely to make pharmaceuticals that help others.

I don't think you can choose a vocation, you either have one or you don't.

Is there something about your decision that’s bothering you?
Firstly I would say guilt is a useless emotion that is carried in society mainly by women.
Secondly it is your life and you must be happy. All that matters is listening to what you truly want to be.
Honestly the city job I did nearly killed me, there was no guilt just a very harmful environment that made me ill.
You could work in the city and be fantastically generous and compassionate and wealthy happy in what you do.
All that matters is making it quiet enough to listen to what you really want. Often behind the need for money and comfort is ideas of security and it’s worth thinking about what’s behind the money that you want. To make sure you are nourished more than just financially.

But whatever happens you don’t need to feel guilty 💕💕💕

Your OP seems muddled.

You’ve made a job choice: fair enough!

“if people/the government really cared about it the pay would be more competitive...” That’s not how capitalism works!

I don’t think that’s what vocation means. You can have a vocation for anything, or do anything “noble” and not have a vocation for it.

You are obviously free to do what you want to do. DH left his job at a non-profit to work in finance because there was no way to support a family on it. That said, the plan is currently for him to “retire” late 40s and go back to that line of work.

I studied Chemistry - as did my sister - and I think I know about 5 people who stayed in Chem. I don’t feel guilty as I couldn’t bear the thought of a career in science and I didn’t see how I’d make it through a PhD as a single mum, but at the same time I dearly dearly hope there are others more brave and selfless than I am who can address the climate emergency.

Interesting thread, nearly all of DHs friends (he did an economics degree) now work in finance (accountants, actuaries, financial advisors) after working crazy hours in their early 20s they all work more sensible hours and have lovely holidays, houses etc...so from a happiness pov I can see the merit in picking a 'sensible well paid career'

About vocations...I've always wanted to "help people" but tbh I'm not that emotionally resiliant/a big introvert...teaching pre-school was exhausting! volunteering as a TA was ok but it was only one day a week...I should have listened to my dm when she told me to do a science degree! Now as a sociology student I love public health type stuff....I think particularly for school girls/women there's a very narrow view of vocations...eg, teaching, nursing, social work. You can help people just as much as an environmental engineer/chemist/statistician etc.