The relationship between the education system and the professional world is somewhat of a trap. The system we live in requires certain skills to help it operate. It needs people to prescribe pills, people to manage stocks, and people to play politics. You can therefore go to school to be a doctor, a stock broker, or a politician. All of which are honorable professions (except perhaps the politicians). Personally I just received my BS in Mechanical Engineering. I chose engineering because I am passionate about innovation and wanted to get involved with . I wish I could say that my education encouraged me to invent the next big thing. I wish I could say that the educational system informed me on the state of the world and me to develop new solutions. However, that has not been my experience. We are simply educated to fill into the system already in place. We are given problem sets and midterms but we are not inspired to think outside the box. In fact, we are discouraged from approaching problems from different perspectives. We all fall in line because we want to get the grades and the degree but the sad truth is that we are being groomed to serve a system that doesn't represent us. It can be easy to get caught up in the pressures of the professional world. People obsess over money and often ignore personal passions to pursue the career that they associate with success. What is money if you don't love what you wake up and do every day? That should be the true measure of success. How excited are you to go through the motions of your life? How can a person work towards a fulfilling life that aligns with their true nature? Sometimes the secret to getting what you really want is to shift your perspective. Slow down sometimes and get real with yourself. Meditate on your true intentions. Allow yourself to stop hurrying through the maze of the professional world and get to know yourself. When we understand ourselves we can imagine the circumstances that would make us happiest and we can do what it takes to achieve that vision. As a person opens their eyes to the power of the mind they can begin to understand the infinite possibilities of existence. Let's consider the metaphor of rats being placed in a maze. The rat with his head scanning the ground is at the mercy of the maze. He is covering lots of ground but he isn't necessarily getting any closer to the exit. However, the rat that stands up and takes in all the paths can begin to plot his escape. Maybe he can astral project over the maze and find the path to the exit. Sometimes the key to escaping the rat race is to stop racing. You don't always have to walk down the wrong path to realize it's wrong. Learn from the mistakes of other people. Commit to self improvement and chase your dreams. The path to your dreams will not be an instant realization. There will be stepping stones, corrections, and perseverance. However, if you commit to your dreams, believe in yourself, and use the power of the mind you will find yourself living them.
