Choosing between what you want to pursue in life is hard. Most people choose to focus on jobs that will financially support them and forget to make time for their passions. Despite that, I believe that passions should be taken into account when pursuing a job.
Pursuing passions usually provides people with emotional fulfillment by doing what they love, while prioritizing practicality is about doing something without any interest in it.
People often choose practical jobs—jobs that offer stability in everyday life—such as being a doctor or a corporate worker because they provide rewarding incomes and stability. Practical jobs offer lower risks of failure and more employment. There are many responsibilities, like bills and daily necessities, that push people to choose practical jobs to be safer income-wise. But selecting a career based solely on practicality has negative effects as well.
Forcing yourself to pursue something that you don’t want to do is highly stress-inducing and unmotivating. Sure, that job may give you a big paycheck; however, the “you only live once” philosophy also matters in this case. It advocates seizing the present, pursuing passions, and minimizing regret because life is fleeting.
From my interpretation, it means that learning to find a purpose allows you to enjoy life to the fullest. In other words, do what you want to do because you only have one life. The feeling you have once you strive towards your passion is something that you can excitedly look forward to.
The ADP Research Institute Global Workplace survey shows that those who spend more time doing the things they love are 3.2 times more likely to be thriving than those who spend most of their time doing the things they don’t love.
In the long run, pursuing what you aren’t passionate about can undermine your mental health. This often creates a sense of unfulfillment and emptiness. When life feels repetitively ordinary, it can dull your sense of joy.
Doing what is important to you provides a sense of purpose, increases resilience, and offers a productive outlet for emotional expression that can combat anxiety and depression. It is easier to do things you want to do because it is a choice that you like. It is evident that this helps to create a purpose and a goal that you can strive to achieve. For one, this is because the brain responds differently when your passions are being pursued. Dopamine, the chemical that releases pleasure, anticipation, and creativity, surges into the mind, as well as serotonin and endorphins, which stabilizes the mood and eases anxiety.
An example is Andrew Rea, who is a filmmaker, self-taught cook, and creator of a famous YouTube cooking channel. Six months before he started his channel, Rea was battling depression while working as a visual effects supervisor, a highly practical and leadership focused role. However, he discovered that if he combined his passion for filmmaking and food, it could lead to a fulfilling career.
As Lizz Schumer, a New York Times reporter, mentioned, “Before [Rea] started his popular “Binging With Babish” YouTube channel, he could barely get out of bed. Today, he credits the show, which inspires its three million subscribers to make their favorite ‘as seen on TV’ dishes, with saving his life.”
Rea was able to utilize his passion to rediscover his spark and pursue a different path.
Overall, pursuing your passions provides you a sense of purpose and can bring you joy. If you combine your passion with practicality, like Rea, it can lead to a fulfilling and sustainable career. Therefore, I believe that your passions should also be considered when choosing career paths, so that you could experience a satisfying life with no regrets.
