UPDATE:Hi all,
Been a while since I posted, thanks so much for the replies. There were some I didn't even read until now because I had no idea.
Thought I'd give an update:
He said, "If Paradise is a place where you can pursue one (and only one) activity constantly and forever, what would you do?"
He said, "Don't think about it too much and don't feel like you have to specify a "job".
I said, "I'd spend it in a library."
...
So, my suggestion for you is that you answer the question, and then start identifying experiences in your past (at school, volunteer jobs, regular jobs) that give you joy and excitement and that bear a resemblance to your answer. And then think about how you can find roles that have a greater proportion of those elements that make you happy and motivated.
I actually ended up somewhere similar to this question. I feel like the direction I'm taking is one I'm excited about, even if a bit tentative and nervous, so I thought maybe there's something to be learned from this.
I wrote in my original post that I did art and built my own business around it - I became very unhappy about this and felt I needed to work towards something I really cared about, and also felt I needed more analytical thinking and just thinking in general. But I didn't want to be in a front facing role, talking to people and things like that. My background is in English literature as well as Psychology. As well as being an INFJ, I also got 'honesty' as one of my main strengths for that career test.
I kept veering into different routes - I started tutoring, giving people feedback on their English assignments. This fulfilled one part of me, the whole stimulation side, but I felt like it totally lacked creativity. As burnt out as I was, I missed that. So I ended up looking at courses back at uni that would combine my strengths - I looked into creative advertising, publishing, etc. In all of these things there were parts that I liked, but I didn't find myself really drawn to. I think the time I took at looking into these things helped in a different way - it allowed me to have space and a break from my art.
With the silence I realised that I was still drawn to creating, but the whole 'self business' and isolation put me off. I kept ignoring that part, not just because I was burnt out with art but because I didn't want it to interfere with my process. I didn't want to choose something out of habit again. Every now and then I went back to sketching though because regardless whether it's a career or not, it's still a hobby of mine. Every time I went back, I learned that I disliked it because it was the same and repetitive, and I was learning nothing new.
Then while watching Youtube, I got some new videos pop up from my usual art accounts I'm subscribed to, and one of them was a 'how to' on backgrounds. I have been avoiding any influence, but actually I only clicked on it this time because I wanted something to watch while I waited for laundry to finish. I saw that this person was doing the background and environment so easily, particularly because of a program they were using. Like they were able to just build the scene in 3d. I had been struggling with perspective and even though I'd gone quite far in making an 'art business', I hadn't finished learning about art. I guess I just stopped learning. Anyway, while watching this I felt like it was possible for me to try it and actually learn about this aspect that's bothered me for ages. (That program was Blender)
I went down the rabbit hole, and even bought a course from Udemy. I was really happy!
Then learning more about it, I realised that learning to use those types of programs allows you to create visual aspects that go into video games too. (I play a lot, totally I had forgotten that my art was really inspired by animation and gaming, and that those topics drive me a lot)
I then thought, well I'd really like to learn Blender, but if it's easily taught in a college course (it's free where I live), I might as well see if I can get onto that? I ended up finding a perfect course for it in my city college. One thing lead to another and it seemed like it was just falling into place. I didn't think about career or anything, I just kept thinking to myself it's really something I want to learn whether I use it in future or not. So I soon after decided to apply - this is quite big for me because I'm usually very indecisive... as you can tell, I put a lot of research into things. (Or second guess myself, whichever interpretation you prefer haha).
Now I'm in the process of waiting to hear back from my application, and have submitted a digital portfolio, which in itself made me realise my art journey and how much I do enjoy it.
Now I want to get to the parts that I had realisations about: It wasn't the art that I was fed up with, it was the structure that was holding me back. Being in a small business, there's no 'career progression', and the fact you're alone, there's no sense of something bigger than you. There's no 'working towards a bigger project' or collaboration, which I get so much joy out of. It was that which put me off. And the analytical aspect of it - there's one thing that has been the same for me throughout every different chapter of my career, and that's my desire to learn how to do new things.
Just like I was initially drawn to digital art (despite being totally put off by traditional art, because it's so 'flat' and 'easy'), I was once again drawn to learning these computer programs to create much more intricate things. Before that, I'd made almost a habit of learning new skills. I've taught myself foreign languages, photography, baking, and even DIY (yes I'm the 'man' of the house - I plastered our bathroom wall and wallpapered our bedroom, all on a first time).
What I enjoy greatly is learning things, especially things that seem to have a lot more potential, like digital and computing type stuff. (Props to those who suggested UX/UI Design.. at first I admit I was horrified at those answers, but now it makes more sense, and it's not something I'm writing off either).What could be more complicated than creating those elements for large worlds - video games which have several higher meanings, create experiences for others, interact with them, and everything. Looking over it now, it even combines my passion for story telling and fiction (which I studied English Lit for), as well as my interest in humans as social beings (psychology background). And of course - it's not a position I'd ever have to speak to anyone. (Thank GOD)
The reason I'm writing all this is because one interesting thing stood out to me -
I am an INFJ, which means I do care about 'bigger things', and I got 'honesty' in one of my main strengths, but it turns out that these aspects don't have any direct link to concept art design for video games. Perhaps that is really telling - just because someone might care about 'higher meanings', that might not necessarily mean health care, or even the typical environmental stuff. Maybe that trait is more about feeling the need to belong to a social group that isn't just yourself, where you can contribute to something that has been a huge force for good in your life - which can even be something like entertainment.
I think the honesty aspect is more about my search for finding something that is 'true' to me, rather than about 'telling the truth' (although I do do that). I think for an INFJ it is important to feel that kind of clarity maybe? That things have to match, otherwise it's perhaps more difficult to feel like it's worth it. These are just suggestions, and obviously I know all types have drive and a need for finding careers that match.
Anyway, let me know what y'all think about that. This is only just the next part of the journey for me, but I feel like I've pulled out that thorn that was bugging me. Your answers really helped open my mind!
I am female and I think certain job routes didn't occur to me perhaps because they've never particularly been marketed to me - but realising that there's no reason why I can't do the things I love is exciting. Thanks again everyone.
