How do I decide between remaining on my present, practical path and following my heart towards a riskier but more interesting endeavor. I am grateful for all I have. I am enrolled in a fine graduate program, but my heart is not in it. Instead I am interested in somatic psychology, a new and unpredictable field. Am I asking for too much to wish for a balance between a — sk, ca

Counsel to pursue your passion abounds these days, and makes a legitimate point: Of what use is it to go into a field where you can surely get a job and make good money, but where you’re miserable? Additionally, if you enter a field that truly excites you, you’ll have the motivation you need to keep going through the hard and dry times. But like you, i try to hold that counsel in tandem with the need for common sense. To what extent is a maverick path a dead-end? How can you be sure you’re not closing down options vital to your well-being? And how does your own unique personality, with its blend of conservatism and pioneering bravery, fit into the picture?

As in any decision-making, you’ll gain the most insight by getting “behind the scenes” of your question. Ask yourself what are the key issues that you need to address in order to feel fulfilled in your vocation. You’ve already stated three: You want to respect the quality of the education and work you undertake; you want to be sure that you aren’t going out on too thin a limb; and you want to trust and respect the inclinations of your heart. Can you think of other issues at stake in your question? If you’re stuck, simply ask yourself “What do I want in my work?” and write down the answers, line by line.

Next, take these lines and prioritize them. Which issues matter most to you? Which come in a close second or third? The issues at the top of your list are the ones which deserve the most serious attention in regard to the choice at hand.

Another strategy you can employ is simply to list the pros and cons of each choice. Even though you may think you already know the relative advantages of each option, the act of writing them down can reveal some startling information. You can take this strategy a step further by assigning points to each item you list. For instance, job security might get eight out of ten points; creativity might get nine. This helps you compare the merits of each choice.

In the end, all these exercises do is activate your own wisdom until you say, “aha!” and head one direction or the other. As Scandinavian poet Piet Hein jokingly pointed out in his poem “A Psychological Tip”, answers come more or less in spite of ourselves:

“Whenever you’re called on to make up your mind,

and you’re hampered by not having any,

the best way to solve the dilemma, you’ll find,

is simply by spinning a penny.

"No – not so that chance shall decide the affair

while you’re passively standing there moping:

but the moment the penny is up in the air,

you suddenly know what you’re hoping.”

Even if you’re not moping – but rather, pursuing your question with integrity and gratitude, as i’m sure you are – you may be surprised at how an answer becomes clear, just at the moment you need it most. I certainly hope you will find that to be true for you!

-- Patricia Carlson