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Thank you JJ! It’s interesting how taking action puts us on a better path because it gives us responses to how things actually are in the real world (vs the “conceptual world” when we strategize).

I know this one well - coming from law school, all my friends and I were trained to look for “what’s going to go wrong” here. One thing that helped was to meet more and more people who aren’t trained in that mindset (it took of a lot of stress for me). You’re definitely doing that which is great :)

Thank you! This is also a cool method to use whenever I get defensive about something :) often it’s because of an underlying bad experience in the past or fear. Hope you can use this tool as well! Thanks for watching.

Thanks Aman! 🙌 have been thinking a lot about our convo on how to update my offer - hope you’re having a nice week!

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the video :)

That's awesome, congrats for getting there! How did you stay motivated along the way before you managed to meet the same income? Welcome to the club haha :)

@@karaebelofficialHonestly I didn't stay motivated the whole time. I had many days when I wondered if leaving my job was a good idea. But I just kept going and over time things got better! Thank you!!

Awesome! Happy to have you here. Hope you’re having a nice weekend.

Glad to hear it! The way to navigate these questions is often to get very specific. Have you had a chance to define what it is that you're specifically longing for? When it comes to fears, it's also helpful to get specific. Saying this is "going to put me back" in my career is very vague, which tends to trigger more fears in us. You could instead ask yourself, "how is this going to put me back in my career?" And "do I care?" As a general rule of thumb, it is easier to explore when you're younger because you have less responsibilities. But you're saying you've just graduated law school so it's an interesting time to want to explore. Why now? What directions would you like to explore? Are they law-related or not at all? Let me know. Maybe we can make some more sense of it :)

I’m sharing my experience, which you’ve understood it seems, and you take away from it (or not), what you want.

Thank you Robie! I'm glad this video was helpful.

Thanks JJ! I really appreciate your detailed thoughts here. I completely relate to what you say about sharing your job title within the first 10 seconds of a conversation. I think about that often. Thanks for watching and sending all my best! 🙂

Hmm, had to look up who this person is. What would have made this video more helpful for you?

Thanks! To jsem moc ráda :)

One major life change for me was from being an introvert to open up to the world and stop being afraid to share my mind, heart and soul.. the folks who don't like me...fine..then let them move on..and don't sweat it ..and to those I connect with..cherish them ! My advice is to not be afraid to show yourself to the world..otherwise nobody or very few will see the light that lies within !!!

Thanks so much! :)

That's a great way to think about it! I really understand where you're coming from. If I could, I would carve out entire weeks to edit videos, run around with the camera, etc. But I've found the forcing function of "okay, I need to just make the most of this small window of time" to be very helpful. It pushes me to be even more creative, often. It's definitely exciting to at least set things up and then think about what you'll get to paint :) glad this video resonated with you.

Thanks so much, Bartek!! :)

I’m glad to hear this gave you a bit of perspective! The mental switch from focusing on the process as opposed to the “destination”/result was a game changer for me. If you can do a little more of the “processes” that you enjoy, it could help in the day to day a lot. Which parts of the graphics design tasks are usually fun for you?

Haha, I see. Maybe the coffee break should just be spent on coffee then :) It just depends on whether you want to be "back in touch" even a little bit or not. Thanks for watching the video anyways, appreciate it!

Thank you JJ! Wow, way to practice even for a small amount of time a day. You're inspiring me to sing a little more. I haven't really done it in months and it takes nothing to do it for 5 minutes. Bass is such a cool instrument and guitar definitely too. Very impressive that you pick up instruments and just figure it out. That's an awesome thing to do. I have someone in my family like this and he sometimes find such niche, random instruments that I haven't even heard about haha. It's so nice to see. Keep it up!

@@karaebelofficial Thank You ! and yes go back to your singing and playing piano...I remember seeing you singing/playing piano and was so surprised and impressed by it !!! that's great you have a family member who's a musician and is always seeking more sounds !!!!

You also earned a new subscriber!

Hahah I’ve also looked for my phone for a solid minute before realizing it’s in my other hand 😅

Aww thanks 🥹 this video took way too long lol. But it’s progress! 🙌

That’s so awesome to hear! Have you moved at this point? Hope packing goes well :) I just started working with a fitness coach online (calls me when I go to the gym) and it’s totally doable.

So happy you got enjoyed it!

Ah yes! More of a general personal assistant or some specific tasks?

Vann! I’d be happy to talk anytime :) message me on IG and let’s set something up.

Thank you! So happy to hear that :)

Thank you!

Thanks Nathalia! :)) happy to see you here

Thanks JJ! I love that’s you listed so many people who did multiple things. I often think of Ken Jeong for example, who was a doctor most of his life and then pursued acting (played Mr. Chow in the hang over). He gave a very nice graduation speech at Cornell (I think it may be on TH-cam) about how you can take different paths in life. There’s many more, as you say. But what they all have in common is that they didn’t have a blueprint on how to do it. They just had to try things and create their own path, which - naturally - is scary and hard. I was willing to trade security for a bit more freedom (an “outlined” career for a career that I build as I go). A lot of people will relate to this and some, of course, may prefer a safer path. So long as we’re accepting of the choices we make, we’re in good shape 💪. It only becomes tough when we are unhappy in one path but are not letting ourselves exit it and do something else.

@@karaebelofficial yes ! Ken Jeong is another great example ! you said it right there.. when we become unhappy with what we are doing and don't exit for fear of losing our so called security... there's a video of Jim Carey Ging a speech on that subject at a graduation somewhere..is so moving !!! so cool Ken Jeong gave a speech at Cornell !!!

Will have to check the Jim Carrey speech out!

m.th-cam.com/video/nLgHNu2N3JU/w-d-xo.html&pp=ygUfamltIGNhcnJleSBjb21tZW5jZW1lbnQgc3BlZWNoIA%3D%3D

This is the 1 minute Jim Carrey speech !!!

Nice! I enjoy crime related reading (Tana French and other authors).

@@karaebelofficial Wow, That must be a lot of fun. Hoping to see more great content

Henry, thank you for sharing! This habit you've developed is something you can change, and it starts with remembering that happiness and satisfaction are actually choices we make. I’ve met many people who haven’t got much in life and are still so happy. How? Naval Ravikant, an entrepreneur, puts it this way: 'Happiness is a choice you make and a skill you develop.' He suggests that we can train ourselves to be happy, just like we train our bodies at the gym. Here's a practical way to start: Each day, look for one small moment where you can consciously choose to be content with what you have, rather than focusing on what's missing. It could be while drinking your morning coffee, during your commute, or even when doing a mundane task like washing dishes. In that moment, pause and really engage with your world. Notice the good things about it. This isn't about forcing positivity, but about shifting your focus. To make this a habit, try to do this at roughly the same time each day, or tie it to a specific daily activity. Over time, you might find yourself naturally looking for these moments more often. Remember, this is a skill you're developing. It might feel awkward or even silly at first, but stick with it. You're essentially rewiring your brain to notice contentment instead of lack. It's important to note that this doesn't mean you should stop wanting to improve. The goal is to reduce negative thinking that doesn't serve you. Constructive thinking, where you plan how to improve things, is still valuable. It's about finding a balance between contentment and growth. Give this a shot for a couple of weeks. I'd be really interested to hear how this approach works for you and how you adapt it to fit your life.

@@karaebelofficial I am immensely grateful for the feedback. ❤️

In a couple weeks time. I will tell you how it went. Once again I appreciate the time you took to carefully point me in the right direction. 🙏 I truly do appreciate

Great, thanks!

Good for you for putting yourself out there! Proud of you. Keep up the great work!

I’ll have to check him out! Thanks for this recommendation 🙏

It's wild how moving countries can shift your whole career - I'm sure many people can relate! Thanks for sharing your experience - it adds another layer to this conversation. Kudos to you for navigating this as best as possible 👏 what was the biggest reason that pushed you to go back to your old career, from an identity perspective?

@@karaebelofficial I couldn’t get an equivalent job in the U.S. and as time passed the anxiety to continue my old job took over. Also the want of finishing what one has already started.

@@jackslate99 got it - that makes sense!

J.J., it's awesome to see you here! Thanks for the thoughtful feedback. You're totally right - from embracing courage to focusing on possibilities. I especially love your point about remembering we're all in the people business. Really appreciate your support and you sharing your insights!

You’re welcome Kara ! And glad to see you here as well.. this format serves you well so you express in detail your thoughts,ideas,etc.. plus your video quality is tip top !!! Looks great,sounds great and the editing is flawless !!! Keep it up and looking forward to see more of your universe here !!!

@@gallo9 Thanks again J.J.! Awesome to hear :)

Thank you so much 🙌 this means a lot!!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. It's clear you're being thoughtful about how you make this change. I like how you're building skills and doing side work while keeping your main job for now - I've done it the same way. What's your favorite part of running your own business so far? And what are you looking forward to most when you can do it full-time? It's great to see how you're planning this out step by step. Keep us updated on how it's going!

@@karaebelofficial The favorite part of running the small business is that I can get information about what is going on in different fields from my clients since I do talk a bit with them, and I also get feedback what I can upgrade. Probably same as one of the reasons why you enter comment section and ask out people, which I find it interesting way to gain more ideas. The profession which currently I invest my time to learn it's mainly because I just find it entertaining and I know it is future oriented.

@@takijeden9222 very cool! Connecting with people is a great way to get new ideas, improve, see things from a different perspective. Glad you're enjoying it.

That’s so awesome 👏 I wonder where you picked that mentality from. It’s a great way to live life! I can completely relate to it and have learned to do it along the way but ambition definitely “stood in the way” of that for a little. Though personally I think it’s all part of the journey - there’s a more “stereotypically ambitious” period in my life which served me very well (lawyer) and then another period where I decided to do my own thing (now) which also is serving a great purpose. Anyways, glad you found my channel! 😊

@@karaebelofficial Actually, I readjusted myself mentally and spiritually again only a couple years ago through the help of philosophy. Mainly Stoicism, Buddhism, and Taoism. 🤗 Mmm yes definitely I agree. I realized the root of my ambitions initially actually just came from "superficial" things, like societal ideologies, peer pressure, other's opinions, etc. Rather than my own desires, spirit, and beliefs. It definitely is all part of the journey! At one point I did regret mistakes or inefficient life choices I'd made, but then I realized without those points in time, I probably wouldn't have arrived where I have. We need those negative perspectives and mistakes in order to see the right path sometimes. Just like silence and breaks are needed in between musical notes, otherwise it's just a mass amount of noise that doesn't make sense. lol That's when I shifted from regretting the past, to endeavoring to ensuring I live without regrets by always pursuing things that bring wonder and growth to my life. I'm glad you've found a better way to live life as well! Would you say there was a pivotal moment or epiphany that brought you to this realization that being a lawyer wasn't what you wanted? I'm gad as well! Sorry for writing so much 😅

@@AznPrzsn Amazing, no please feel free to share, I could talk about this stuff all day hahah. I can really relate to what you're saying. I haven't tapped into philosophy, stoicism, buddhism, etc. much myself but completely see how that would be helpful. I usually think that there wasn't an "epiphany" moment for me (just a slow realization that law isn't where I want to be). Buuut there are a couple of things I often think back to: (1) looking up at the lives partners (or people senior to me at the law firm) are leading and realizing I don't want to have their life, (2) covid (I started working with my mom's small coffee shop business on the side helping her with marketing when her coffee shops were closed - the more I did it the more I didn't want to do law), and finally (3) realizing that I'm working with a nice team, a very supportive supervisor, have all the chances to continue "climbing up the ranks" and maybe even make partner and I still feel miserable every day. Those are some of the things that came up for me and made me realize I really need to make a change :)

@@karaebelofficial Haha thanks! Same here ☺ You should really check out philosophy! It just helps expand your way of thinking, which I can see you've already done yourself. But it can introduce you to new perspectives and paradigms about approaching life and human psychology. I see, that's awesome. I think it does take a good amount of introspection, self-reflection, and awareness that those factors brought you to a realization you weren't where you want to be, despite the difficulties and challenges it might present! Not to mention courage of course! 🤗 Did you face any opposition or ridicule when you made your choice and rejected continuing a life of being a lawyer? Thank you for chatting with me thus far by the way! It's been a treat. 😌

Money definitely changes how we see our options, especially when there's a safety net. I have been very surprised though many times: I've both met people who make a lot of money and are mentally fully stuck in the job they're in (despite having a financial runway) and also people who may not have room for discretionary expenses and still choose to take the work that they like vs. work that just pays better (some of those people are in this comment thread even). That last category of people is very inspiring. They're usually very wise with the little money they have.