You see people making big life changes, like going to medical school at 45, because they couldn't imagine being an accountant (会计师) for 20 more years. It seems magical, like one day they just decided to make it happen. For some people, it might work that way. 【小题1】 In truth, it takes years of thinking and planning. I’ve figured out how to streamline things a bit. You may want to try it yourself.

First, accept the uncertainty of life. As much as we don’t like to admit it, life is uncertain. 【小题2】   If you doubt me, go back 10 years and ask yourself where you thought you'd be now. I doubt it looks exactly like you planned.

Second, be open to possibilities. Many times, we know we want to do something, but we don't know what “it” is. Explore a bit. Brainstorm. 【小题3】

Then, once you decide on something, it's time to plan a bit. 【小题4】 As you meet different difficulties, make sure you spend time questioning your assumptions (设想). Maybe something you always considered true is nothing more than someone else's opinion.

Finally, as paths (路线) open, head down them. Don’t worry if you experience false starts. 【小题5】   Almost all of the stories readers shared with me about doing life-changing things involved changing plans, disappointment and lots of hard work. But in the end, it was worth it.