Psychology

Are you lacking direction at work or in life? Look back to the things you enjoyed doing as a child, writes Hazel Davies – the younger you has vital information to share

 writes Hazel Davies

When my friend, Andy, was growing up, he wanted to be a lifeboat captain. He sailed regularly with his family but the thought of pursuing it as a career seemed ludicrous for a bookish and musical boy.

Andy made a career for himself in the music industry running a record label, while every so often hankering after the sound of the waves.

It’s a scenario with which I am familiar. My childhood passion was music. I would sit at our ancient piano, imagining myself at Woodstock hanging out with Bob Dylan and Joan Baez. I’ve spent the best part of my life saying, ‘I would have been a singer if…’ But becoming a musician just wasn’t something people like me from my background did, so I didn’t bother to look into it too much, and chose a career as a writer.

Four years ago, Andy and his family moved to the coast. He started volunteering with the local lifeboat crew and, when a job as a coxswain came up, he went for it.

The move involved financial sacrifice but his family was supportive and, five months on, he says: ‘It was the right decision. My old work was beginning to feel routine and unimportant. Living up to the trust the volunteers place in me is a big responsibility, but it doesn’t feel stressful because I have the support at work and home to get the job done.’