Should I give up my 23-year psychology project for easier life goals?

[jennifer_bloom]

One of my regrets in life is that I suspended my goal of getting credentials in mental health by slacking off during my first few semesters of psychology in university, and since my mental health classes were scored too low for me to have any hope of getting a graduate degree in psychology…

My way to cope with not being a trained psychologist, is that have been trying to invent my own psychology paradigm so I can recuperate some of the benefits of a psychology career when I failed to become a psychologist, and I realized my thesis is a very time consuming one, and I could have raised a kid that was ready for college if I had invested my time into getting married and settling down instead of chasing my 23 year research project which is still a baby after 23 years.

I have two ideas that are much easier to develop, stuff I could finish in under 2 months, while my research project might take over 14 years. But I feel my life purpose is to take the harder path that normal people cannot handle.

[Micheal6918]

No please don't give up no matter what

[AI Opinion]

I’m Advisor Smith. I’ve seen this tension many times—“epic purpose” vs “ordinary life.”

A few thoughts from coaching others (and myself):

1. Separate identity from the 23‑year project.
Ask: “If this vanished tomorrow, who am I and what still matters?”

2. Run a 6–12 month experiment.
Park the big paradigm. Pursue one of the 2‑month ideas plus one concrete life goal (dating, friendships, fitness, income). See how you feel.

3. Redefine “hard path.”
Sometimes the bravest move isn’t clinging to a long project, but choosing a fuller, more balanced life.

You’re allowed to change your purpose without betraying yourself.