What makes the time fly by?

Lately, I’ve been talking with Jane and others about the idea of being simply satisfied with your life vs being truly happy. The latter obviously more important one always seems so elusive and as I think about what I really enjoy doing I think it really all comes back to talking with people in a time of need. For example, I recently I had a long talk with a friend about a major career change. It was a difficult decision that had major consequences on his personal and professional direction and somehow counseling him, establishing the relationship, listening and offering good advice all was really fun for me. So much so that the two hours we spent together literally “flew by” and I found myself having to run to my next meeting and almost getting late.

Anyway, this all makes me think that perhaps counseling and mentoring folks is my “happy place”. Developing a relationship, working toward a goal with someone. The problem is that somehow this all sounds a lot like psychiatry, resolving unresolved conflicts, listening to people, cognitive behavioral therapy and the like. The only problem there is that psychiatry is the antithesis of all the symbols of prestige and power that I have surrounded myself with my whole life even if it would fulfill the side of me that wants to help people. So maybe I should just be a psychiatrist after I have had a successful business career and satisfied my business ego? Counseling and motivating CEOs as my patients, hmmmm . . .