We get into professions we hate for various reasons: fear of not having enough, fear of not mattering, or envy of what others have.

We sometimes avoid the job we really want because it doesn’t pay as much, isn’t popular, or seems too difficult to get. Instead, we enter fields we don’t really care about because they seem economically and socially safer.

Sometimes that’s the right call. Sometimes the dream job isn’t realistic for us. But there are ways to reduce the odds of remaining in a profession you hate:

• Keep your expenses low.

• Stay out of debt.

• Don’t try to impress others with status.

• In your spare time, pursue the things that interest you most, even if others don’t understand them and even if you don’t see a path to making it a full-time thing.

You’ll be tempted to give up and follow the crowd—especially if you’re doing something unconventional. There’s nothing wrong with reassessing your choices, that’s always a wise move, but don’t give in for the wrong reasons.

Do your thing and stick with it. Keep moving in the right direction. Every day presents a chance to build the life that’s right for us.

Even if you were wrong about the destination, that doesn’t necessarily mean the journey was a waste of time. It might be a stepping stone to something else.