As a nurse who worked in hospice care it’s been my antidotal observation that most of us in this industrial civilization suffer this existential crisis of purpose. We spend so much of our life doing meaningless tasks. Just most people don’t face these feeling of regret until the last few days of life. I have never had anyone say to me in their last days, “I wish I would have worked more and made more money”.
Excellent post. Even older people like me (55) are rethinking what we value, even as we worry about our children and how they'll move forward with climate devolution.
It was this constant push to go up, up, up, that caused me to reflect. I had just graduated with a Master's in Bioethics and Health Law, I was going to go into the medical field...until I was told I needed to have a PhD to succeed and continue my path up, up, up. So I took pause. And I realized that climate crisis was so urgent and I had always been passionate about it (but thought that because I wasn't sciency I wouldn't "succeed"). So I used my skills and strengths to move into environmental work, and I now focus on communicating climate in engaging and accessible ways.
My story is similar. I left a competitive PhD program in NYC to go back to my home country and try and live a fuller, happier and healthier life. I've spent the past 2 years working at a new nonprofit that aims to bring people together, make better public spaces, and create communal joy. I'm still working hard (securing funding for a nonprofit is no joke), but there is purpose and community, it's not all about me, and I feel more belonging on my team than competition and dread. It's been hard to change, but worth it. I'd tell anyone struggling in a similar way that it's good to trust your feelings and there are better things out there. Nonprofits are a tough field too, but in our case I think it helps that we center celebration and joy. There are better ways to do nonprofit work, too.
The tough struggle to 'make it' in US academia eventually started looking absurd to me -- in a world shaken by so many crises, why try so hard to succeed in legacy structures rather than make something better? For me, it was the abusive bahavior of a professor plus the turmoil in US politics that finally did it, but all the problems are related. The need is so big and there are so many ways to feel useful and more connected. A nice surprise has been that, if you want to do something meaningful, people will support you.
This is so real. I think this affecting so many people's thinking when it comes to work (mine included). Centering being a "person first" in the face of the always encroaching dread is liberating.
I can absolutely relate to this. For the last year I've been looking into how I can shift my skills and career into environmental work. I've seriously stopped considering traditional "success" since the pandemic, because what's the point?
We empathise deeply with you and those of whom you speak - we know many others who think and feel similarly.
Some of us 'olders' have been feeling exactly these pressures for decades, and doing our best to assist the transformative change/s required to address #polycrisis (climate change +).
You might be interested in checking out some of what we are trying to bring into the world. If you see any synergies, please be in touch - our Courageous Conversations might be a good place to start.
Looking forward to hearing from you; or, if not, wish you well on your journey - we can go further together than any of us can alone.
Hi Team! Thank you for this article. I’m touring corporate headquarters today to discuss sustainability, accountability, and campus wilding – especially related to talent & recruiting. The information here (real decisions made when pursuing career opportunities) is a real change driver – something that does work in the absence of municipal, corporate, and societal buy-in. Insurance related to increasing natural disasters will also drive real change in that absence.
Such wonderful work being done here! I’ll be sharing it today. 😊
Hi Britt! Thank you for your contributions to this important research! I’d like your permission to quote a few lines from this article for my TEDx talk titled “What Will it Take for People to Act?” I’m eager to engage middle age climate-concerned fence sitters who need a good nudge to step into the arena of action. With your permission, this line and the one referencing the BUPA poll are the ones I’d like to quote in my talk opening to give context for my call to action. My talk was given last weekend and is prerecorded. The organizer approved the addition before final edits are made. If you agree, please email me promptly at kelly@kellygreencoaching.com. Thank you!
“In a 2021 study 10,000 people, ages 16 to 25, were surveyed across 10 different countries: India, Nigeria, Philippines, Portugal, Australia, US, UK, Finland, France, and Brazil. Almost half said that their thoughts and feelings about the climate crisis have significantly impaired their ability to function: to eat, work, sleep, spend time in nature, have fun, and be fully present in their relationships.“
One area you may wish to investigate further is the question of why, generally speaking, people of all ages seem much more concerned about climate change than they do nuclear weapons, a far more imminent threat. Puzzling...
Also, we got climate change because we rushed blindly in to new technologies before we had a chance to think through all the implications. We're still doing exactly that, except that now we're doing it considerably faster than a century ago, and on more fronts. Climate change is very important, but it's only a symptom of a much bigger problem.
thank you for this post! i loved reading about other folks who are also on this journey. i've definitely leaned more toward contentment in my work, instead of striving for more. i now think often about what robin wall kimmerer writes on this topic--that gratitude and contentment are radical in a world that prioritizes the endless pursuit of bigger and better, to the detriment of the natural world and other people.
One chapter of the book “Wellsprings of Work” (www.WellspringsofWork.com) explores careers motivated by (as the chapter heading puts it) “Building for the Future.” Working on climate change exemplifies that. Imagine astronomers predict a gigantic meteor will destroy the earth in 30 days (a la the movie “Don’t Look Up”). For most people, that would destroy all motivation to work, regardless of your occupation. Why? Because expecting you’ve got a future— or at least, that humanity at large has a future— is key to feeling your work is worthwhile. Colleges and grad schools use “Wellsprings” to help Gen Dread find meaningful work and as your blog points out, working on climate change is Exhibit A, whether through meteorology or journalism, law or oceanography.
As a nurse who worked in hospice care it’s been my antidotal observation that most of us in this industrial civilization suffer this existential crisis of purpose. We spend so much of our life doing meaningless tasks. Just most people don’t face these feeling of regret until the last few days of life. I have never had anyone say to me in their last days, “I wish I would have worked more and made more money”.
Excellent post. Even older people like me (55) are rethinking what we value, even as we worry about our children and how they'll move forward with climate devolution.
It was this constant push to go up, up, up, that caused me to reflect. I had just graduated with a Master's in Bioethics and Health Law, I was going to go into the medical field...until I was told I needed to have a PhD to succeed and continue my path up, up, up. So I took pause. And I realized that climate crisis was so urgent and I had always been passionate about it (but thought that because I wasn't sciency I wouldn't "succeed"). So I used my skills and strengths to move into environmental work, and I now focus on communicating climate in engaging and accessible ways.
My story is similar. I left a competitive PhD program in NYC to go back to my home country and try and live a fuller, happier and healthier life. I've spent the past 2 years working at a new nonprofit that aims to bring people together, make better public spaces, and create communal joy. I'm still working hard (securing funding for a nonprofit is no joke), but there is purpose and community, it's not all about me, and I feel more belonging on my team than competition and dread. It's been hard to change, but worth it. I'd tell anyone struggling in a similar way that it's good to trust your feelings and there are better things out there. Nonprofits are a tough field too, but in our case I think it helps that we center celebration and joy. There are better ways to do nonprofit work, too.
The tough struggle to 'make it' in US academia eventually started looking absurd to me -- in a world shaken by so many crises, why try so hard to succeed in legacy structures rather than make something better? For me, it was the abusive bahavior of a professor plus the turmoil in US politics that finally did it, but all the problems are related. The need is so big and there are so many ways to feel useful and more connected. A nice surprise has been that, if you want to do something meaningful, people will support you.
This is so real. I think this affecting so many people's thinking when it comes to work (mine included). Centering being a "person first" in the face of the always encroaching dread is liberating.
I can absolutely relate to this. For the last year I've been looking into how I can shift my skills and career into environmental work. I've seriously stopped considering traditional "success" since the pandemic, because what's the point?
Nicely written @brittwray
We empathise deeply with you and those of whom you speak - we know many others who think and feel similarly.
Some of us 'olders' have been feeling exactly these pressures for decades, and doing our best to assist the transformative change/s required to address #polycrisis (climate change +).
You might be interested in checking out some of what we are trying to bring into the world. If you see any synergies, please be in touch - our Courageous Conversations might be a good place to start.
Looking forward to hearing from you; or, if not, wish you well on your journey - we can go further together than any of us can alone.
https://andnowwhat.be/courageous-conversations/
Neil Davidson, And Now What - Leuven, Belgium
Hi Team! Thank you for this article. I’m touring corporate headquarters today to discuss sustainability, accountability, and campus wilding – especially related to talent & recruiting. The information here (real decisions made when pursuing career opportunities) is a real change driver – something that does work in the absence of municipal, corporate, and societal buy-in. Insurance related to increasing natural disasters will also drive real change in that absence.
Such wonderful work being done here! I’ll be sharing it today. 😊
Happy to Talk,
Sidney Walker
Professional Landscape Architect
American Society of Landscape Architects
Hi Britt! Thank you for your contributions to this important research! I’d like your permission to quote a few lines from this article for my TEDx talk titled “What Will it Take for People to Act?” I’m eager to engage middle age climate-concerned fence sitters who need a good nudge to step into the arena of action. With your permission, this line and the one referencing the BUPA poll are the ones I’d like to quote in my talk opening to give context for my call to action. My talk was given last weekend and is prerecorded. The organizer approved the addition before final edits are made. If you agree, please email me promptly at kelly@kellygreencoaching.com. Thank you!
“In a 2021 study 10,000 people, ages 16 to 25, were surveyed across 10 different countries: India, Nigeria, Philippines, Portugal, Australia, US, UK, Finland, France, and Brazil. Almost half said that their thoughts and feelings about the climate crisis have significantly impaired their ability to function: to eat, work, sleep, spend time in nature, have fun, and be fully present in their relationships.“
One area you may wish to investigate further is the question of why, generally speaking, people of all ages seem much more concerned about climate change than they do nuclear weapons, a far more imminent threat. Puzzling...
Also, we got climate change because we rushed blindly in to new technologies before we had a chance to think through all the implications. We're still doing exactly that, except that now we're doing it considerably faster than a century ago, and on more fronts. Climate change is very important, but it's only a symptom of a much bigger problem.
https://www.tannytalk.com/p/our-relationship-with-knowledge
thank you for this post! i loved reading about other folks who are also on this journey. i've definitely leaned more toward contentment in my work, instead of striving for more. i now think often about what robin wall kimmerer writes on this topic--that gratitude and contentment are radical in a world that prioritizes the endless pursuit of bigger and better, to the detriment of the natural world and other people.
Thank you for use of the quote! It was edited back out in the end due to length but I will use it when I show it live as a discussion prompt.
https://www.ted.com/talks/kelly_demarco_occupational_therapy_s_role_in_climate_crisis
One chapter of the book “Wellsprings of Work” (www.WellspringsofWork.com) explores careers motivated by (as the chapter heading puts it) “Building for the Future.” Working on climate change exemplifies that. Imagine astronomers predict a gigantic meteor will destroy the earth in 30 days (a la the movie “Don’t Look Up”). For most people, that would destroy all motivation to work, regardless of your occupation. Why? Because expecting you’ve got a future— or at least, that humanity at large has a future— is key to feeling your work is worthwhile. Colleges and grad schools use “Wellsprings” to help Gen Dread find meaningful work and as your blog points out, working on climate change is Exhibit A, whether through meteorology or journalism, law or oceanography.