Spiritual Bookshelf Episode 17 : How do we design a better career and life for ourselves?

Hey everyone, welcome back! I’m Phillip. How was your week? Hope you’re doing awesome! Today, we’re diving into a big question: How do we design a better career and life for ourselves?A lot of us, after working for a few years post-graduation, start feeling that burnout creep in. You know, that moment when you wonder, “Is this job really for me? Should I switch careers? But to what?” Work’s tied to how people see us and pays the bills, so it’s tough. On one hand, you’re losing that spark for what you do. On the other, jumping ship feels risky—what if it’s a total unknown or you lose your place in the world? So, what do we do when we’re stuck like this?Hi, I’m Philips! If you’re like me and want to figure out how to make the best decisions when life throws big choices at you, stick around—this episode’s got some ideas you might find helpful!Over at Stanford University, there’s this super popular course about designing a better life. It got so big that the two professors, Bill Burnett and Dave Evans from the Design School, turned it into a book called Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life. They take “Design Thinking” and apply it to life planning. The idea? Life’s like a design project—you test stuff, tweak it, reflect, and build something that fits you. They say forget the myth of one perfect path and explore all kinds of possibilities. We’ve broken it down into five steps to help you design a better career and life. Let’s check them out:Step 1: There’s no single “right” path.We often think there’s just one perfect way to go, but life’s full of options. Stop asking, “What should I do?” and start asking, “What could I try?” Embrace the uncertainty—it’s a chance to explore, not stress. If anything’s possible, what kind of life do you want? Swap “I can’t find my dream job” for “I can test out different ways to live and see what works.” It opens up a whole new vibe.Step 2: Focus on what you can change.Some stuff—like wanting every workday to feel amazing—is tough to fix. Instead, zero in on what you can shift. List what’s bugging you about life—job, relationships, whatever. Split it into “I can control this” and “I can’t,” then tackle what’s in your power. Ask yourself, “What’s stressing me out that I can actually do something about?” Take this guy: He was a bank manager for 20 years, financially set but feeling empty. He dug into a childhood love—woodworking. Started small with a night class, made some furniture, took little orders, and eventually went full-time. Less cash, but way more joy. He didn’t quit day one—he tested it out first. The key? Small experiments to lower the risk.Step 3: Ask three questions, sketch three plans.Step 4: Test small, think big.Step 5: Keep tweaking as you go.And that’s it for today! What do you think—any takeaways? Give these five steps a spin:                  •               Life’s got tons of paths, not just one.                  •               Fix what you can, let go of what you can’t.                  •               Sketch three futures.                  •               Test small before jumping.                  •               Keep adjusting till it clicks.If you’re into this, hit subscribe and share it with someone who might need it! Here’s to designing a life we love with a little exploring, testing, and tweaking. Catch you next time—stay happy!