Parents have expectations for their children; that’s natural. But letting those hopes guide your career choices can cause unnecessary angst. Maybe you want to switch careers but you’re afraid your parents will be disappointed. Or perhaps you want to move to a new city or country but are worried about abandoning them. These are real concerns, but it’s important to remember that we tend to think we know what people expect of us when we actually don’t. So write down what’s important to you and what you want out of your career, and then talk with your parents to align your expectations. The goal of this conversation is to clarify what they really think and want from you. After these candid conversations, people often realize they were wrong about what their parents expected of them — usually there’s more support and acceptance than people thought.
Adapted from "What to Do If Your Parents Are Causing You Career Angst," by Stew Friedman
