When I was in high school, I was very jealous of my classmates who already knew what they were going to do with their lives.
My father knew from childhood he wanted to be a scientist. He went straight from college to a PhD program in chemistry, and from there worked for a total of two or three companies. He worked at the same company for my entire childhood. My mother went straight from college to earning her teaching credential. She quit teaching when she became pregnant with my older sister.
I knew from age seven that I wanted to be a writer. In my clarity I was following in my dad’s footsteps, right? Only not so much. Imagine my alarm, at age ten or eleven, when I somehow began to think I wasn’t allowed to be a writer. Did my parents tell me this? I don’t remember. All I remember is that I knew I couldn’t be a writer because it wasn’t practical and I wouldn’t be able to earn money by doing it, and then I wouldn’t be able to afford the asthma medication I took daily. I was really upset until I soothed myself with the thought that I could always become a librarian.
From this point on, I didn’t feel like I knew what I wanted to be. I didn’t want to be a lawyer or a doctor. I wasn’t so sure about being a classroom teacher. I didn’t want to be a scientist. All of the exciting-sounding jobs in books were, I discovered, also impractical. So I decided to become a musician.
I know. I don’t know what I was thinking, but I’m so grateful I thought it anyway.
Photo by M.G. Kafkas
There’s a common line of thinking: “Follow your passion.” I don’t think this is bad advice, but I think it’s incomplete. I would say, follow your passion, BUT:
- It may be hard to figure out what your passion is. Not everyone is born knowing in their bones what they want to do. And if you grow up exposed to limited career and life options, you might need to go digging to even become aware of the possibilities.
- You may not be able to make a living following your passion. But you may have to try it to discover whether this is true or not. And the results may surprise you.
- You might be able to make a living, but you might also have to compromise on your lifestyle. Some people don’t want to do this. Either choice is completely valid.
- You may be perfectly happy not feeling passionate about your career. This doesn’t mean you can’t follow your passion anyway. I knew a dental receptionist who went sky diving every weekend because that was her true passion. I know writers who get up early or stay up late to squeeze in writing time. I know musicians who participate in community theater or play in bands by night.
- Some people have more than one passion. So if you follow one and it doesn’t work out, you might want to fish around in your brain and see if you can discover another one.
There is no one right way to follow our passions. There are an infinite number of ways, and our job is to figure out which way we will follow right now.
How do you follow your passion in your life?
The Practical Free Spirit 
It’s like you wrote a message just for me. My father also knew exactly what he would be and only worked at one job – he even passed-up promotions because he liked doing field work so much. I, on the other hand, have never known and have had all kinds of various (and totally unrelated) jobs. So I know about the pressure to be something that has a succinct title: doctor, lawyer, teacher, scientist, etc.
Right now I literally do “a little of this and a little of that” and I wouldn’t have it any other way – it gives me time (and mental freedom) to work on my (newest!) passion.
Glad to know I’m not the only one that thinks about these things…
The way we see careers and jobs has been shifting over the last…I don’t know, 10 or 15 years, perhaps? I’m so glad I live in an era when people jump around between jobs and careers more frequently, work from home and for themselves, and have some flexibility. The first time I met someone who supported himself via various gigs and odd jobs was a revelation for me.
I never really knew what I was going to do with my life. Every time I had an idea or interest, it faded or someone/something squashed it, often with the scorn of being “unrealistic”.
I always had an interest in History but my passion for it didn’t really become apparent until the last few years (I’m 30 now). I expressed interest in majoring in History when I went to college right after high school, but my mother expressly forbid me from majoring in anything unless I could explain what I intended to do with the degree that would involve a well-paying career. I ended up in the only major I could under that requirement – computer science. I was (and am) “good with computers”, but I don’t think I’ve never been particularly passionate about them and I suck at math so I suck at advanced programming.
I’m back in college now as a History major which is clearly my passion. I’ve been giving history lectures at my local public library and have been praised by friends and strangers about how clearly passionate about the subject I am. I still don’t know what I want to do with the degree and I’m hoping to figure that out before I graduate with my bachelors in a year. A couple people have told me I should become a college professor, but I still not sure I want to teach or go to grad school. But at this point in my life I feel like I will never be really satisfied with life unless my career – not just my hobbies – are something I am passionate about (and at this point in my life, that’s history).
It’s also really important to me to be spending the bulk of my time on work about which I feel passionate. Some people seem perfectly happy without this, which is great, but not me.
I read some career advice recently that said you should look for the intersection of one of your passions and a way to make money. This sounds kind of like common sense, but it can be surprisingly difficult to put into practice.
Amy,
Thank you very much for this great article! I found your blog through a Facebbok post. I started my own business two years ago using my passion: teaching, writing, and editing. It’s been a very steep climb. I recently gave a talk to a class of college students on the same thing you wrote about here. I have my BA in English because English is one of my many passions. However, I have lots of passions and lots of hobbies. One of the biggest hurdles over the years has been that there are alot of English majors out there looking for the same job. My advice: get your degree, but make sure you enjoy doing what you’re doing while making money at it. If I had it to do over again, I would have gone for bio and chemistry: two things I love and would have probably helped increase my income. My problem right now is time. I’ve kind of worked a middle ground by taking an EMT class right now.
Angela
Those of us who have identified multiple different passions are super lucky; having that self knowledge makes it easier for us to adapt. Good luck with the EMT class!
Reblogged this on Your Mind In Bloom, LLC and commented:
Great post!
when i was in high school i got involved in a marketing club called DECA…i ended up becoming the president of the club and attained many awards..it was my senior year and i was trying to decide what i was going to major in when i got into college the next year…i told my teacher i liked marketing, but i was more of a creative spirit..i loved to write. she told me i should go into advertising. that was the extent of my guidance…and i took it…i deicded to amjor in advertising…3/4 of the way though my degree i felt my heart being tugged in a completely different direction…anthropology. i had a class in their buliding and everytime i walked in there i felt like i belonged in there. however, it was way too late in the game and i was much too much in debt from going to school for 4 years already out of state tuition…when i graduated college i felt like i HAD to get a job in advertising or else what the hell did i just spend all tha tmoney on that ill be repaying, til i DIE. it just didnt make me happy…i have regretted not changing my major and following my heart…it consumes my thoughts on a regular basis and it truly upsets me on a regular basis. i think maybe im defining myself as a person by what my job is and i know thats not right…now i have an 8 month old daughter and my priorities have obviously changed, but everyday i wish so bad i could go back in time and follow my passion…my dream job would be to travel the world and write/photograph for national geograpic…but instead im an out of work advertising coordinator and stay at home mom…what happened to me? 😦 i feel like there is a piece of me that is missing but i will never be able to follow that dream 😦 money and time just wont allow it.
Argh! I heard the same advice, that if I wanted to have a “creative” career, I should go into advertising. As if that’s the only creative career in the world. Interestingly, I discovered anthropology the summer before my senior year of college and loved it as well, but of course couldn’t fit in any more classes in it before graduation.
I hope you can find another dream to follow that is exciting and fulfilling. Sometimes they pop up when we least expect them.
i hope so…recently there has been a light at the end of my tunnel. my husband got word that we will be moving to california in august. being from the east coast im sure it will be a shock, but i have a feeling my spirit is going to be renewed. we will be near san fran and i have a feeling im going to be enlightened in ways i never imagined. i cant wait!
Sometimes a change of scenery is just what is needed to get a fresh start. And the weather here is pretty great, lots of sunshine as long as you’re not living IN San Francisco.