Wayfinding

Looking at my map, the biggest thing that stands out is that even though these three lives look different on paper, they’re all built on the same core themes. No matter which direction I take, I’m drawn to advocacy, stability, and working within complex systems. I want to be in positions where decisions actually matter, where I’m either helping someone directly or influencing outcomes in a bigger way. The setting changes (courtroom, nonprofit, policy), but the reason I’m there doesn’t. 

Another pattern I noticed is that I need both meaning and stability. I’ve spent enough time in survival mode to know that financial security isn’t optional for me; it’s foundational. But at the same time, I can’t stay motivated in work that feels trivial or disconnected. That’s why every path I mapped still includes some version of impact. Also, apparently, no matter which life I choose, I still want a cool car… so clearly some priorities are non-negotiable. 

This exercise helped me realize I don’t need to feel locked into one perfect path. Law is my strongest direction right now, but it’s not the only one that fits. That takes a lot of pressure off. Instead of trying to get everything exactly right, I can focus on staying aligned with what consistently shows up for me. 

Overall, this made my “internal compass” feel a lot clearer. I’m not just choosing a career, I’m choosing the kind of problems I want to solve and the kind of life I want to build around that.