Our makeup makes our self-feedback system seem to give us mixed messages.

One clue can be what we are into when we are "in-between".

Your profile suggests to me a couple of clues - the effect you have as a family man which is a distinct calling and what field of study you have chosen.

In regard to "sheltering" oneself, don't forget that in your case it has a knock-on nurturing benefit to your family. Also it is an excellent adaptation in our case to try to avoid overambitions triggering any kind of spell.

Inner life and home life are worthwhile in infinite ways.

One can have ambitions that one hadn't thought of as ambitions because one thought they wouldn't look big to others.

I've remained single and am in middle age and was in a line of work for a while, well now I'm wondering what life holds next!