Career change. Making what I love to do a possibility if only I could narrow it down and take a leap

I am an INFP though I never mastered the art of day dreaming and I truly enjoy being neat and organized though it is very difficult for me to do. I also like earning good money (which I once did) even though I am not what anyone would describe as materialistic.

As a child I knew I was "different" as I had high regard for life (wouldn't even step on an ant) and was high on having good morals. I was deep!

After journalism college, I went into technical sales for the money (till I got bored once I met the challenge of succeeding in that field and "proving" myself); Later I did great in marketing and running a small wedding biz for a large corp (till everything became routine and I got bored), and in between these 2 great jobs I was a paid freelance writer for a nat'l mag (great while it lasted) and even waitressed a little (serving champagne at a celebrity yacht party, etc.) Oh, worked a little PR/benefits but quit bc my boss was such a shady type.

Now after being a full time stay at home mom for several years and losing myself in it literally, I am ready to work again (not to mention how hard living on 1 income has been).

I am torn between helping others (counseling/life coach) and beautifying my sourroundings (decorator) and the metaphysical (ministry, etc..) Nothing seems perfect.

Since I don't know how to combine these things, I almost rather not do any of them. Can anyone relate to this sense of perfectionism?
I'm almost afraid to decide in case it involves more school. I have a 4 year degree and don't really see how going back to school would be an option now with kids or even make financial sense considering what a lot of jobs pay out of college. And, most busines type jobs while I enjoy in the beginning (new challenge, paycheck, new people) end up killing my spirit. I guess I need a better sense of purpose then making the corporation I'm working for richer.

Has anyone out there gotten past the sense of making a life decision that has no guarantee that it will turn out to be ideal?

All of this looks very familiar. I also longed to combine many interests and finally chose to be a teacher/writer. Through my teaching and I writing I feel I can make a difference and it also helps me to sort out my life. Do you write? There are many low-residency degree offerings: you can do most of your work on the computer.

I sympathize. It is so hard for the INFP to choose and our standards of behavior can be very high. I also understand your feeling of different-ness.

I am going through a very similiar situation and I am considering becoming an art teacher. It seems to combine most of the things I like and make up for the things I am lacking in my current situation.

An astrologer friend told me about tonight's first full moon of 2010--it's in Leo and at 1am Eastern time you can sit under the moon and fulfill your heart's wishes. I am crazy enough to wait up for it (or set my alarm). How appropriate: watching Julie & Julia tonight on dvd, then remembering I had started a blog too (excited to see that 2 people read me), and planning to wish under the stars for my new career or at least direction on where to focus my energies next. Please God get me past stagnation once and for all!

You know it worked for Julia Childs, and for the other Julia, and of course for the girl who made those panty hose girdles "spanx" and then sold them to Neiman Marcus!

I hope the moon looks down on me in good favor tonight. As an INFP/J I think life is magical you know? So, hopefully some fairy dust will fall upon my pseudo wings tonight as I sit under our mango tree and find true purpose.

It is refreshing to hear your thoughts...especially coming from a fellow INFP!! Very cool that you write and teach. I never see myself as a teacher and yet my 6 year old told me that I am already a teacher b/c I'm constantly teaching him and his sister.
Thank you for sharing. I use to write. Been published. But just stopped, you know? For years now. Maybe this blog can whip me back in shape!
I do tend to take things oh so seriously. Totally undecided months later about school/career. But like I just wrote, expecting magic to happen tonight. In some weird way it already has as I'm back at the keys!

An art teacher sounds wonderful. Are you pursuing it yet?
I don't think I am exceptionally talented as an artist but the thought of it sounds like so much fun! I always thought that if I taught highschool for example, I would teach an elective class like yearbook, music or if I dared to, art!

Excuse my stupidity-but what does INPF mean? 8^)

INFP is a temperament type. If you google "INFP" you'll find several explanations. Short answer is that we are creative, rather solitary types with deep feelings.

I am attempting to start a photography business. I love taking pictures, but now that I am starting a photography business, I find myself shying away from taking pictures. I think this is mostly because the editing takes so much time and I am such a perfectionist. Also when a photo shoot doesn't go as well as I would have liked, I want to isolate myself to perfect what I was having trouble with; yet I now don't have the time. Also, I now have to photograph what other people want, and I do not have time for the photos I want to take. This is turning into a rant. I apologize. When I went into this, I fully expected to love what I was doing, but I guess I am somewhat disappointed in that regard.

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Your experience is not unusual for people who turn hobbies into businesses. I've known more than one potter, for example, who gave up their businesses because making things to order and to deadline was both more stressful and more boring than they ever expected. ("One hundred identical plates--it was awful!")

#10: you are so right. I started in college as an art major but the competition and drive for perfectionism killed it for me. I changed to English, and now I do art just for the love of it.

#9: if you return, please let us know how it is going with the photography.

#10 100 identical plates, that sounds almost as bad as data entry.

#11 Hi Theresa! I have closed up my photography shop and am now just doing it for fun and am much happier for it! I am now day trading the forex and I like that a lot better. There my perfectionism is quite a plus. What type of art projects do you enjoy?