"I'm in the same boat to an extent. Keep working on yourself for your own happiness. As we often say around here, women are along for the journey not our soul search as a Don Juan. We're going after our mission and purpose in life. Staying pure to the hustle. Making a name for ourselves in the real world. Getting better and better at our pursuits and passions we love."
I think this is a good quote right there. The key work is working on yourself. Its very easy to say, but for longer term goals, one must often make shorter term sacrifices to get there. For me, it was switching careers and learning something entirely new. This took a toll on me mentally for sure.
Things might finally be progressing in the right direction. I have a lead for an opportunity that would pay meaningfully more, offer much better experience, and provide skills to eventually work for myself. Its taken many years to get here, and I can see why people stop short at times; considerations of spouses, family or other pressures are real.