How did you get over your past career mistakes ?

Title says it all. I was obsessed with a very niche hard to come by field and had an awesome start with the internships. That was 3.5 years ago. Then 2 years ago while I was job hunting I got the opportunity of my life, little did I know that would be the only one I could come by and messed it up. Then got a job that was seemingly close but couldn't be more far away. I have been working two years now and I couldn't be farther away from what I actually wanted to do, which is funnily made me hate what I was passionate about for almost 9 years and kept me going so long. Now I feel miserable, I know I will never be able to get a closer opportunity and hate my field entirely. I keep thinking of that one job opportunity that my own stupidity and maybe even arrogance made me not get it. I should just stop thinking about it but I am so lost that I don't even know how to navigate my life from here. 

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I was in a very similar situation and experienced the same feelings you are now. What's done is done, dwelling on the past only keeps you from building a new future. It's important to remember that the grass is not always greener either. It sounds like you aren't happy and may need to think about another opportunity. Only you have control of what happens next, put yourself out there and see what there is. When I was going through my situation, I kept telling myself "It only takes one", and I eventually ended up landing in a killer role in a different setting... even if it wasn't originally what I thought a dream role would look like. In fact, I didn't even realize this kind of spot existed! It took a while to find and required a huge attitude adjustment over time. You can think "there will never be another" and keep yourself under... OR, you can embrace a more open minded attitude. You really never know what is around the corner, you just have to have the courage to go look for it.

 

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