He had been pouring out his soul like a wine offering to the devil. Was this what work was supposed to be like?
The backside of the factory was cool and dark. Apathy crawled over the surface of the atmosphere. Dave’s co-worker John slipped a butt from his pocket and lit, performing something of a toast to the lunch break.
Dave peeked over, and the tobacco stench pinched his nose. He covered his mouth. Disgusting.
And he asked himself again, “Is this what my life is supposed to be like?”
***
Where do you think Dave is? Who do you think Dave is? Why do you think Dave finds himself where he is?
Can you pick it up? He’s a stereotypical salaryman. Dave landed himself in a dead-end job working as a corporate slave for a management team he hates with worthless co-workers. He’s far from loving his labor.
Just about everyone has a hobby or something they like to do. Most of us don’t get to do it for our careers. We have to make money, eat, sleep, clothe ourselves, and live. We raise “doing what we love” and retiring to pursue our personal interests as a Holy Grail. However, I’m here to tell you that you needn’t suffer as Dave until you reach that Nirvana. Instead, satisfaction in your work and daily enjoyment stand right before you.
***
Defining the Terms
It’s important to first realize that I will not tell you that you can quit your job today, drop out of college, nor start a business right now. I am about realistic goals and realistic promises over peddling self-help guru dreams to unsuspecting fools (you’re not one, obviously, since you’re reading my blog). Therefore, I want to define the terms when I write how to do what you love and get away with it.
Do
To do something is not to always be doing something nor is it to do something for a living. I cannot promise you can make your hobby into your job nor can I promise you will be able to practice your hobby for hours on end. Instead, I define two simple goals for this article:
- Do what you love.
- Make what you do what you love.
What You Love
What you love is any hobby or work you enjoy. It might not be what you enjoy most, but it is something you like.
Get Away With It
Here’s the kicker: getting away with doing what you love means you spend your life, whether in work or hobbies, satisfied with what you do.
It does not mean you will be a 24/7 rock-star.
Think contentment, not pleasure.
To get away with it is to not be stuck like Dave in a cycle of never-ending loathing and cynicism.
***
1. Start an Idea
Take what you love to do and create a project from it.
Make this project something you can work on over time and, depending on your end goal, something you can sell or show others.
It’s really simple. If you work on a project, you are guaranteed to do what you love in a meaningful, satisfying way.
For example…
- Host a cooking class
- Create a board game
- Sell paintings online
- Gather and coach a sports recreational team
As you develop this project, you will develop your hobbyist skills, and you may be able to apply those skills toward other jobs or projects. Furthermore, if you’re in college, you might discover courses of study that correspond to the projects or skills you find that you enjoy. Thus, an idea snowballs into a career.
Yet, if not, you still do what you love to do in your free time.
2. Stick to Your Vision
Doing what you love sounds nice, but watching Netflix is a lot easier.
Unfortunately, abandoning hard work for cheap thrills is human nature. Kicking back on a Sunday afternoon with a platter of wings and a football game will be much, much more attractive than spending grueling hours in the garage carving woodwork.
So, just as you begin, set reminders and accountability to stick to your original idea. Tell your friend or significant other to check in on your progress frequently.
No amount of writing can convince you to do this. You just have to try, fail, get back up again, and keep going. Practice your discipline like mad, and don’t forget that this is doing what you love.
3. Pursue the Long-Term
Finally, remember the meaningfulness of life beyond the immediate.
Ultimately, at some point, you will drag. You will not want to do anything at all, and even the fun activities lose their luster. The Daves in life constantly feel this. Overcome short-term hatred for what you do with the long-term reminder that no bit of work is in vain if you do your work for the greater purpose of glorifying God.
Forego short-term successes. Pursuing dopamine rushes in your favorite hobbies will not ever satisfy you forever. You must have long-term goals that keep your fire burning in the coldest nights.
I let my long-term goals revolve around utilizing my hobbies to help others and build relationships. I believe this heals others, especially those with broken or missing friendships and relationships. When I forget why I do what I do, I retreat to this.
Fortunately, this clears our last rung: pursuing the long-term means even if your job sucks, you can find redeemable qualities in it. How can you selflessly serve your co-workers in it? How can you do the best-quality work? How can you pursue higher motivations in a seemingly worthless calling?
Envision your own long-term goals, and stick to them.
***
I want to add value to your life through MyronHighsmith.com. If you liked this and want more, follow me via. email to get posts like this one regularly.
