My answer is simple: no.
I have a good job, a great job even, that affords me a pretty nice life style. I'm not rolling in money but I can buy things, go out and well, enjoy life. I am so grateful for my job and that I am able to do these things, and worked very hard to get to where I am.
Disclaimer aside, it's not my passion.
I'm not living what I love.
I dream of a day where I'm living what I love, doing something in fashion, or social media, blogging, styling or helping people get dressed. These are things I'm passionate about. These are things that get me excited.
These are not things that would currently pay the bills.
I struggle with the idea of ever leaving the job I'm in. It's a job many people would want, kill for even, and like I said, it affords me a lifestyle I like. Leaving it would be so scary, and if I didn't make as much money, would I be as happy or comfortable? I don't even feel that comfortable, so I can't imagine making less. On the other hand, if you're doing what you are really passtionate about, wouldn't that be enough?
Sound off: are you living what you love?
"On work: do you live what you love?"
ReplyDeleteMy Guess would be that only a fraction of 1% of the population could Truthfully answer YES to that Question.
" if you're doing what you are really passionate about, wouldn't that be enough?"
that would be nice, but unfortunately in todays world, we are forced to be "Driven" by money (to a great extent) in order to survive, and have, and do, the things we enjoy, so when a true passion can't generate enough income for survival.... we work. On the other hand, if you live your true passions and earn a great income from that.... you are not really working.
I think that many people (more should) like yourself, and myself will turn what they do for a living into ONE of their passions, and by doing that, you create satisfaction.
Like yourself, I, and many folks look to fulfill their passions outside of work, and that, creates a good balance of life, work, and loves.
Keep on "Keepin' on".
I gotta be honest - I'm in the minority!! I absolutely, positively love what I do. I'm a technical trainer - I find technology fascinating and mind-blowing. The passion I have for what I teach, along with the passion I have for interacting with people, makes my job the perfection combination. Couple that with the travel I get to do because of it, and I can honestly say I love, love, love what I do!!! But I do also feel like I'm in the minority. Definitely. And I feel blessed for it!
ReplyDeleteMy answer is also no. Like you, I have a pretty nice job and I worked my a$$ off to get where I am. BUT...I strongly dislike it. Accounting is not for me. If I lived my passion, I would be working with victims of domestic violence and/or teens experiencing the same issues in relationships. I love counseling and wish I had pursued it.
ReplyDeleteInstead of going the counseling/psych route in school though, I got a business degree and evetually a Master's in finance simply because jobs in that field make decent money.
So basically, I'm just working in this field for the money. It does not make me happy and in fact, it causes me so much stress that I'm often sick because of it. I feel like it's too late to start over and even if it isn't, it's not very economical to add even more to my student loans!
I gotta say, that I do really love my job. I'm a teacher, and while the word is hard, and I take alot of my work home, I get alot of satisfaction from it. At the end of the day, I'm extremely happy.
ReplyDeleteFortunately, this job has also allowed me some great perks - working overseas, lots of international travel, vacation time etc.
For me, absolutely NOT. I work in finance (snooze) but it is a great paying job that I feel very fortunate to have. My passion is not in numbers though, I would love love love to be a fashion merchandiser or do something working with animals because I love being around them. But all those jobs don't pay near what I make now :(
ReplyDeletemaybe one day.....
Not at all. My job is great, I have *amazing* coworkers and it pays well buuuut I never pictured myself working in insurance.
ReplyDeleteI want to be an event coordinator, but like you I just can't sacrifice the pay right now.
"The only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking and don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And as with any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking, don’t settle." - Steve Jobs.
ReplyDeleteThe only meaning your life has is the purpose you give it yourself.
You run into the same people over and over again dressing the same, acting the same, getting the same haircut, saying the same catchphrases, lying the same lies, listening to the same music, eating at the same restaurants that you wonder why I can’t be the same like them. Then you interact with someone that’s real. An individual that doesn’t subscribe to the same ideologies and bullshit and likes what they like all the while being genuinely kind, generous, and interested in others and in touch with themselves and in tune with the world around them in a way that you could never encapsulate in words. And that truth fills you with shame and makes you angry for ever wasting your time and compromising who you want to be and what you want to do that you get motivated to stop where you’re going and fucking change everything.
Easy jobs are not necessarily a good thing. Last year I had a job that paid me well and was so.freaking.easy. At first, it sounded like a dream, but after a few months of feeling like I lacked any purpose for eight hours a day, I realized money and a relaxed work day were not worth feeling like I was regressing in my day-to-day life.
My advice for you? Make shit happen. At least three times every day take a moment and ask yourself what is really important. Have the wisdom and the courage to build your life around your answer.
The WSJ had a great article about this. Instead of saying “I don’t have time” try saying “it’s not a priority,” and see how that feels. Often, that’s a perfectly adequate explanation. I have time to iron my sheets, I just don’t want to. But other things are harder. Try it: “I’m not going to edit your résumé, sweetie, because it’s not a priority.” “I don’t go to the doctor because my health is not a priority.” If these phrases don’t sit well, that’s the point. Changing our language reminds us that time is a choice. If we don’t like how we’re spending an hour, we can choose differently. If you don't like your job, do something else.
“If you’re not scared, you’re not doing it right. Fear is an indicator of love. If you love something, you fear it.”
“Why do we wrestle with our fears? Do we all crave security, a promise from the universe that everything is good and always will be? The truth is – there is no such thing as security. Or better said, the only real security that exists is the knowledge that whatever comes, you will find the strength to deal with it.”
Thank you SO MUCH everyone for your amazing, honest answers.
ReplyDelete@Anon #2: Wow, thank you for writing so much, it's so inspiring and you speak from personal experience. It's neutral level information and really great to read as a whole. THANK YOU.
Amanda, I love your blog and love that you ask these honest questions! It is funny...I was going to write yesterday and say, "yes! Absolutely yes I love what I do!!!" but then I had a crappy night with the kiddos and I woke up this morning wishing I could live someone else's life for today! :)
ReplyDeleteBy and large, I do love what I/we do. I am truly living my dream life and I couldn't be happier - in spite of the days that are crazy hard and make me want to cry. We (hubby and I) are using our gifts and passions, we are raising our kids in a great (though challenging) environment, we don't have a lot of money, but we are constantly growing and being challenged and investing in the lives of others. For us that has meant more than anything.
i don't write this to sound self righteous or pat myself on the back...but just as a reminder to myself that even after a night of washing cloth diapers by hand, the internet shutting off on my blog post, kids waking up at 5 am, etc, etc. I look around and am so blessed and thankful for the life I have been given. The joys far outweigh the challenges!
@ATB: What a great comment!! Thanks for the sweet compliment too! I agree, there would be frustrations and hardships even if you love it, but like you said, your positives far outweigh the negatives :) Thanks for sharing!!
ReplyDelete