Juicy Pop Drop (a sweet treat from Great Britain) surveyed 2,000 people ages five through eighty and discovered something quite interesting: people felt most carefree and satisfied with life at age 9 and age 68.

I learned about this survey soon after I had read Quiet, where Susan Cain writes about finding passion in your work.  She suggests turning back the clock (in one’s mind) and thinking about what it was that you loved about life around age nine.  What did you want to be?  This is an age when we are unencumbered by the restraints of the appearance of who we are and the expectations of others.

When thinking about what you wanted to be more than anything in the world, Cain suggests thinking about what role that career represented to you.  Perhaps you wanted to be a doctor. Did it represent helping hurting people or the power and prestige associated with the profession?  A firefighter?  Was it about rescuing people in distress or driving a red fire engine with loud sirens? A ballerina?  Was it about being on stage in front of others or the pure love of dancing?

If you are contemplating a career change or are looking for work, I think this is helpful in beginning to discover more about what you are passionate about.  (Most nine year olds are pretty excited about life.) By the way, Cain spent ten years in a job where she struggled to fit in, so she is writing from experience when she offers this advice.    Turn back the clock and pay attention to what you wanted to be when you were nine years old.

Marlayne Whitlock, M.A., LAPC
mwhitlock@ GROWcounseing.com