In chapter 10, I found the section “mismatching” to be very relevant to my life right now, as a second semester senior. I am currently looking for the “ perfect match” between my personality and interests, and I do believe that if I do not find the right occupation then I may not be as happy as I hope to be. After reading this section, I do believe that it is important to choose a career that matches your personality. The type of occupation that best matches my personality and interests is social. I enjoy working closely with other people, especially children, while improving individual’s current situations. I completely believe in the finding that individuals who spend their lives working in an occupation that best fits their interests would face less stress and therefore would be healthier. We spend most of our lives going to work and therefore it is important to enjoy the work that you do.
It was reassuring to read that the findings revealed that when choosing a career, finding the “perfect match” does not necessarily put one on a path toward long life. I think often times individuals do not know if they have found that “perfect match.” Especially when you are just starting off, individuals may have to go through many positions/careers in order to find that “perfect match” and feel satisfied.
In chapter 10, I also thought it was interesting when productivity was studied in adults over the age of 70. I am not surprised that the individuals who were continually productive lived much longer than their more laid-back counterparts. I think it is important to continue to learn and be motivated throughout life. While reading this section, I thought of my own grandparents. Both my paternal grandma and grandpa volunteer, paint, and take classes at the age of 85. Until the age of 75, my grandpa was still seeing patients in his pediatric clinic. They are both very motivated and love to be productive. Although I did find it surprising that productivity was more important than social relationships or sense of happiness and well-being.
I found the last page of chapter 10 to be so frustrating! After reading the entire chapter, the author writes, “finding the perfect career to match your personality and preferences is not the way to guarantee success of long life. Many Terman subjects found themselves in less-than-ideal jobs and yet attained great success and satisfaction.” I do not know what to conclude from that chapter, other than it just varies from person to person and depends on an individual’s attitude and productivity.
While reading chapter 11, I kept in mind my own grandmother who is turning 90 years old in a month. My grandmother is the most religious woman I know and has been that way since losing her husband and son at a young age. For my grandmother, her faith is something that keeps her positive and connects her to the community. Most of my grandmother’s friends are from her church, and attending church for her is a social event as well as a place to feel hope and security.
I agree with your conclusion from Chapter 10. What was the conclusion from that chapter because I honestly don’t know. Once again, the moral of this book is just that as long as you are satisfied with your life choices, you will have long life. I do think that fitting in with the job that you choose is relevant in the case of occupational stress and the ability to reduce that as much as possible.
Concerning the chapter on religiosity, I found it quite disturbing to be told that you won’t have a long life unless you are religious. As discussed in lab, I feel that as long as you are getting the things that you receive emotionally from your place of worship that will benefit you psychologically from somewhere else, you will live a long and happy life. I believe it’s less about the fact simply that you’re religious, and more about the what you’re actually getting emotionally from being religious.
I think your initial conclusions from chapter 10 were right. They basically say that as long as you find a job where you’re able to succeed in some way, it doesn’t necessarily need to perfectly match your personality. In some ways, that was actually harmful in a few professions–like sales. Their conclusion to the chapter was definitely frustrating, though, but I think that reflects their tendency to try pleasing everyone by not taking too strong of a stance. Annoying, I agree.