What do you want to be when you grow up?

[RubiconXing]

What if you're an artist? Both occupation and identity are inseparable. ....Everyone neglects us!

[BlakeBarbieDoll]

I really enjoyed this video...as I do with all of your videos.

[citormussa]

Very calrifying and inspiring video!

[WraithWalk]

i wnt 2 b a riter

[33MrSmiley]

When I grow up, I want to be impossible!

[rainkandy]

ive been struggling with this question a lot. im in college, trying to decide what career i should pursue: med, pharmacy, optometry, or maybe just find a job. my mom suggested i imagine what i want to have accomplished by 80 and try to decide how to get there. after some thought i realized i want to be multilingual, learn instruments, have a happy family, feel accomplished and wise. perhaps the career i choose wont matter as long as ive had time to develop these things...

[invanorm]

I always hate it when anyone asks me, "What do you do?"

I kinda feel that it misses the point entirely - that point being who I really am.

[modemusicman]

Again there in lies the problem, just take the highest level of educational oath, the infamous "MBA Oath" and then re-ask the same question. If one is logical it already understands it cannot be both MBA and Oath, so what is the purpose of the highest level of education? If one resides within the structure of unobtainable growth, when they grow up. Can one profit from oath and still be oath?

[FeelFreeToArgue]

A lot of the alienation in modern society comes from a failure to contemplate this very question in a deep and meaningful way. People tend to have very consumerist/careerist views of what it means to "be" or "become" something or someone, ignoring the consequences for their psyches of these unnecessarily narrow definitions.

There are a lot cheap distractions shouting for our attention, though. It's never been easier to live an unexamined life - a dubious achievement, to be sure.

[Professoranton]

Thank you for this thoughtful comment. I appreciate your insight.

[SirWinstoneChurchill]

@Professoranton

What do I want to be when I grow up?

Arnold Swartzenegger without the steroids...

[dismutased]

'Growing up' is an ongoing project for everyone, regardless of age. I think the perfect balance, in order to nudge personal evolution in the right direction, is a combination of book learning and personal experience. Developing one's emotions, moral philosophy and capacity to handle life situations is just as important as learning logical and factual skills and information. The two go hand in hand.

[jaikook]

It's about integrating your ethics and values into your profession/milieu/occupation/l­ife. And it would be nice if your ethics and values exceed your personal/material/capitalistic interests. At least, that's what I'm hoping for.

[Metanoeia]

Was it Boscovich who found out that bodies never come in contact? Well, souls never touch their objects. An innavigable sea washes with silent waves between us and the things we aim at and converse with.

Emerson

[masivatak]

When someone in a socal setting asks me what do you do?

I like to say about what?

This quirk started because I'm a laid-off carpenter.

[lysergicaddict]

Just grow up to 'be' and there is nothing one cannot achieve or accomplish.

_☼_

[Newsish]

This makes me think of that quintessential ice-breaker question, "What do you do?" That we answer the question with our job title is telling. Perhaps we should ask, "What are you interested in?"

[Professoranton]

watch?v=MtSE4rglxbY

[dewonthegrass]

I do ask this question, well, not to people I've just met, but my friends, if we haven't seen each other for a time. I ask them "Are you reading anything interesting at the moment?", or "What are you reading at present?", or "Are you doing anything interesting in your free time?". Some people are taken aback.

[2bsirius]

I'm glad you put a link to your book in the description...I'm looking forward to reading it. I've had it on order here in the UK for a while not...Hope it arrives soon.

I think maybe the best way to think about it might be that we're not finished until we're dead...Till then we are try to become something 'better' by using energy to understand the world we happen to have been born into...[There is a lot more to say about that, but I won't.]

Good, introspective thoughts.

Thanks.

[dwixi]

People really get medium and message mixed up. Im glad I have noticed this early. theres a few good articles by "Steve pavlina" on his website. Hes a personal developmen guy. And has an inresting take on this. you should check out his articles on purpose.