Sometimes we pursue goals that never really were our own to begin with but were our parents or are ideals of what others want for us to become. Are you pursuing what is your OWN dream or is it someone else's?

Having the courage to see if your aspiration has changed is also critical. You may have wanted to be a chef and found that you vision of it was different than the hands-on requirements when you were an apprentice. What do you do if your experience doesn't live up to your dream? First you have to evaluate if it is the current environment you are in or if it's the goal or dream itself you are disillusioned by. Sometimes a related area may appear to be more interesting. For instance, a person may decide to pursue the career of restauarant management instead of being a chef. You can take something from your original dream but supplement it with what you've learned from your education, training or job experiences.

For others, there may be a complete career shift based on a continuing education course you may have taken, a friend who is enthusiastic about something they learned during their vacation or something that stimulated new ideas from a magazine article. Give yourself a little time to digest this new direction, research it plus try to really take on the lifestyle through visualization to see if it's for you. It isn't always easy to tell if a new idea is a "fad" or if it's something you won't tire of in six months. Keeping that in your mind is helpful to help with your evaluation.

Don't panic if you question your dreams. This helps you evolve, reformulate and come up with a plan that matches your own development and values. Choices also do not have to be permanent. Due to the flexibility of online education today, new avenues can be pursued to help you find positions and develop skills that can give you greater fulfillment.