Most people don't get down to the business of choosing their "real" career until around thirty or so. It's the rare 20-something who recognizes the consequences of a poor career choice. If you have a gut feeling that you're not doing what you're supposed to be doing, this is a good clue to take seriously. Your inner wisdom is telling you to face the music and deal with your unresolved choice.

Thirty-somethings usually find that their career mismatch is rooted in quick decisions made when they were in college or even younger. Neuroscientists have found that young people are overly optimistic in the face of complex choices, especially choices with long-term consequences that are hard to predict accurately, and choosing a career is one of the most complex.

Long-term decision-making is difficult for everyone; our brains weren't built to think accurately about our future happiness. To compensate, we wing it or postpone the decision. If were you're thinking "it'll work out later", you were probably hoodwinked by your brain. So it's not really your fault if you feel like you fell into your career and it isn't turning out to be a good fit. On top of our brain's imperfections with long-term decision-making, the outdated tools and advice available in the educational system compound the problem. It's very difficult to make a smart career choice; those who do are an anomaly. So if you're feeling like you really screwed things up, give yourself a break, most people are in the same boat.