A few years ago, I was working as a lawyer. I worked long and hard to get there. I got good grades, I did amazing internships. I even did parts of my education at UC Berkeley, California, USA. I build up quite some student loans to get my legal career going. And now, I don’t use my law degree at all anymore.
When I decided to quit my job as a lawyer, some people told me that I was wasting my law degree. That made me wonder, are these people right? Have I wasted my law degree?
Prefer to watch? Check out the video that comes with this blog:
I grew up with a violent mom
What you need to know about me, is that I grew up with a violent mom who would not miss out on the opportunity to make me feel like I was not good enough. So all I wanted when I was all grown up, was to finally feel good enough. I thought that being a lawyer would give me that. Along with financial security, purpose, and status.
An unhappy lawyer
Although I managed to create the career that I had dreamed of, it didn’t make me happy. Most days, I felt miserable. The legal world was too harsh for me. I had bosses who’d make me feel small, which triggered old childhood trauma’s. I was walking on eggshells the entire time and eventually, that became too much for me.
I got burned out. When that happened, I realized that life and my career didn’t turn out as I had expected. I expected a joyful, happy and fulfilling life, but I wasn’t feeling any of those things. I was unhappy and crying almost every day. I knew that life wasn’t supposed to be like that. I did not survive my childhood to become an unhappy adult.
The career switch
It became clear to me that I was never going to thrive in a hierarchical work environment. When I realized that, I knew that I had no other choice but to leave my legal career behind. So, I went searching for my Soul Purpose and job in which I could bring that purpose to life.
And as you can see, I’ve found it!
Have I wasted my law degree?
So yes, I don’t use my law degree anymore. And chances are that I never will again. But no, I haven’t wasted my degree.
I needed to go through everything that happened to get to where I am now. I needed my law degree to become the person I truly am. And although I’m not practicing law, it’s because of my law degree that I can be the Soul Purpose and Career coach that I am today.
It’s because of all that I have experienced that I have the wisdom and knowledge to help other women who are now in a similar situation. This may not have been possible without my law degree. My degree did what it needed to do for me. I used it in the exact way that I needed to use it.
Thinking about switching careers too? Take the leap!
If you‘re on a career path that’s not making you happy, know that you have the choice to change this. Don’t worry about wasting your degree or career. As humans, we develop all the time. Your degree has helped you turn into the person you are today and it’ll always help grow into the person you’re meant to be. Whether you use your degree or not. You deserve to be happy and feel purposeful, no matter your degree. And I hope that my story has given you the inspiration and courage to follow your own path and live your Soul Purpose.
If you want to know how I can help you uncover your Soul Purpose, check out this page.
If you have any questions about this blog, I’d like to hear from you. Drop your comment below in the comment section or send me an email.
Pin for Later
