In my previous article, I helped you explore the million dollar question – what career should I choose? We concluded that it important to follow your conscience while listening to all the unsolicited and solicited advices from friend, family and foes. Listening to your conscience while choosing your career will help you get a future you would love to live. It is important to understand what is conscience at this stage.
The feeling from the inner sense of what is right and wrong and that which guides a person’s thoughts, decision and action can be defined as conscience. Your conscience is shaped by upbringing, cultural influences, education, and life experiences, and it plays a crucial role in ethical decision-making.
What Does It Mean to Listen to Your Conscience?
Listening to your conscience means paying attention to your inner voice when making decisions. It involves self-reflection, understanding your true feelings, and making choices aligned with your values and beliefs. Instead of being influenced by external pressures—such as societal expectations, peer influence, or family preferences—you focus on what truly resonates with you.
When choosing a career, listening to your conscience means identifying what genuinely excites you, recognizing your strengths, and selecting a path that aligns with your interests and long-term fulfilment rather than just financial or societal expectations.
Three Do’s and Don’ts while listening to your conscience
Do’s:
- Does your conscience align with your upbringing? – Review your career choice to discover which elements originate from the values and principles you learned as a child. The pathway will bring fulfillment to you because it matches your fundamental principles.
- Is your conscience influenced by the culture around you? – Social norms alongside cultural expectations ought to be factored into your career decision. The influence of culture should not steer your career choice if your dedication rests on genuine interests instead of cultural compliance.
- Are your educational skillsets supporting your career choice? – Check whether your advantages in academics line up with your selected career direction. Your selected skills must make you an expert in your profession instead of generating perpetual obstacles.
Don’ts:
- Do not be carried away by emotions alone. – Strong professional motivations require solid practical factors including employment potential and necessary skills together with sustainable focus in time.
- Do not let your conscience overshadow intelligence and logic. – You should include your inner voice in your decision-making but validate it with research and expert consultation and logical analysis in order to make an educated choice.
- Do not ignore the realities of the job market. – Your inner thoughts may drive you towards a dream profession however professional demand and future advancement potential along with financial security should be part of your decision process.
Can listening to conscience be misleading?
Listening to your conscience can sometimes be misleading, especially during adolescence and early adulthood when personal identity is still developing.
As students progress through higher education, they naturally begin to form their own beliefs and values, often distinct from those of their parents and family. This process is a crucial part of personal growth, but it can also create internal conflict.
During adolescence, physical changes, emotional fluctuations, and increasing self-awareness contribute to heightened stress and self-doubt. These factors can sometimes result in a “duality in conscience”—where one part of the mind justifies personal desires and beliefs, while another part struggles with external realities, such as career prospects, financial stability, and societal expectations.
This internal conflict may lead individuals to make career choices based purely on personal passion without considering practical aspects like job availability, required skills, or long-term sustainability.
While following your conscience is important, it should be balanced with logic, research, and real-world insights to ensure a well-informed decision.