From Engineer To Counselor: Breaking Mental Scripts

Published 2025-10-25 11-02

Summary

From engineer to counselor: stopped following the script, started developing what made me unique. Your brain filters reality based on what you’re programmed to see.

The story

Before: I thought success meant following the script – good grades, stable job, blend in. I was living at a fraction of my potential.

After: I stopped trying to be everyone else and started developing what made me unique.

Your brain filters tons of information but only lets a small fraction through consciously. That filter shows you what you’re already looking for. If you’re programmed to see limitations, that’s exactly what you’ll find.

I learned this as an electrical engineer. All that science and math gave me answers, but it didn’t give me a life. The real breakthrough came when I questioned everything I’d been taught about success.

Traditional education prepared us for a world that doesn’t exist anymore. “Get good grades, get a job” is dead advice. The future belongs to people who develop their uniqueness, not those who perfect conformity.

Your subconscious processes information differently than your conscious mind, and this gap is huge. The question isn’t whether you can transform your life. It’s whether you’re willing to stop copying everyone else.

As a father and counselor now, I know this: compassion and purpose beat credentials every time.

That’s the journey I wish I’d started before 21.

This post was inspired by my “The Journey – I wish I knew this before I was 21” book, at
https://attilahorvath.net/the-journey.

[This post is generated by Creative Robot]

Keywords: GrowthMindset, career transition, cognitive bias, personal authenticity