All Topics, Lifestyle

The Importance of Doing What You Love

‘Find a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.’

REALISTIC

From the moment I was asked to choose my GSCE topics in high school, I painstakingly considered what I’d love to do. I had friends who knew they wanted to be nurses, doctors, lawyers. Their choices were easy, all they had to do was pick the options that suited their future careers.

Me? I was a little less realistic ambitious and had always thought bigger than an average career. I day-dreamed through art classes. Pondering how I’d probably move to LA and effortlessly become the next Lauren Conrad. At one point, before questions were asked and light was shed on SeaWorld, I wanted to become a dolphin trainer. My idols were Rachel from Friends (the later seasons, of course) and Carrie from Sex in City. Obviously I couldn’t actually speak about any of these options without being scoffed at. I guess I didn’t realise that real life comes easier if your parents are well connected and rolling in it.

VS OVER-AMBITIOUS

I’ve never been ‘realistic’ or happy to settle. In high school I wanted to be creative, fun loving fashion intern living in Hollywood so badly. I even took art after being advised by my teacher that I shouldn’t. I got a B grade and created a portfolio of work which ultimately led to a double A-Level in Applied Art. Sometime after that though, I lost the confidence and ‘I’ll prove you wrong’ attitude which had helped me do so well. I’d exceeded the conditions to attend Norwich University of the Arts.

Here’s the sucker; I didn’t. The competitive creative industry and lack of jobs in my area scared me off. I bailed and chose a degree I had no passion for just to tick a box and to keep my options open. I also spent the next four years in jobs that I didn’t enjoy. Although they provided me with work experience and, you know, money, I lost all passion, interest and satisfaction. I’d lost my way.

FIND WHAT YOU LOVE

I started blogging less than half a year ago which was a big deal for me as someone who struggles with confidence. I had dreamt of blogging for a while but really struggled to find the courage. As we all know, embarking on any new and public venture leaves you open to criticism and failure. Career blogging is so competitive that I didn’t think I had a chance and found it easier to enjoy the content that others were so assertively publishing.

When I finally plucked up the courage, I had no idea just how much I would fall in love with writing and how much I missed being creative. It was both a lesson and reminder to me. If you don’t enjoy what you do, then so much of your waking life is being wasted. Whatever you do there will always be people who have less than savoury opinions of you, but I’d rather be the girl that tried than the girl who settled and allowed herself to fade into the background.

Blogging is something that I love.  Although I’m making progress, I’m certainly a long way behind those lucky enough and smart enough to have made it their living. What I have gained is a new sense of purpose, a satisfaction and sense of pride. A girl’s gotta pay her bills, but it certainly shouldn’t be the be all and end all of her life.

AND DO IT

It’s easier said than done, but find a job that you love and the income is just a bonus. No dream should be submerged under piles of office job filing. Don’t settle. Dreams don’t manifest into reality without a little help. If you’re not sure what you love yet then just keep trying new things, take up hobbies and enjoy your time. No one should ever feel too shy, too scared of judgement to hide who they want to be.

It’s a cliché that we most regret the things that we didn’t do, but it also rings a painful truth.