How many years have you been in your present job? Five, ten, maybe longer? Do you enjoy what you do, or is it simply a means to an end? Many people labor for years in positions that hold little personal value to them but that pay the bills. They dread going to work and can't wait until the day ends. They "survive" their job in order to enjoy their life outside of work.
I started working when I was 14 years old picking fruit and vegetables for farmers in the summer. I didn't dislike the work but I would certainly rather have been doing something else. Going through my high school years and beyond I have held many positions from garbage collector to warehouse worker to maintenance worker, and the list goes on. (Faith has asked me if there were a job I hadn't done.) Until I was about 30 years old and started to work in the cable TV industry, the longest I held a job was about two years or less. I obviously wasn't "invested" in these positions; I didn't love what I was doing.
People devote the most time and energy to those things that they have a passion for. What is passion? It is one of the strongest, most powerful emotions that we humans can experience; an almost burning desire or attraction towards something, and it is not exclusively related with members of the opposite sex. Bill Gates has a passion for technology; he has devoted himself to the personal computer and associated technologies. Michael Phelps is passionate about swimming.
What sets passionate people apart from the rest of us? It's that burning desire to be, or do that one thing in their life that overshadows everything else. They are usually almost driven to do or be that one thing. They are totally immersed and invested in that one thing. One possible result of that passion is that they may end up being the best at that one thing, as in Michael Phelps case or Bill Gates. Does that mean that everyone that is passionate about something ends up the best, the most succesful, the richest? Of course not, but they probably enjoy it more regardless of fame or money.
In fact some of the most passionate people would be doing what they do even to the point of lacking many things in order to be involved with it. I think of the starving artist in this regard. A good number of artists whose works today sell for millions of dollars died without a penny to their name - but they were passionate about their art; they wold rather work on their art than eat. I will admit a certain affinity with the artist because while my vocation has been in business, my avocation has been oil painting, and still is.
Can anyone be passionate; find their avocation? Does it mean that they need to starve in order to consumate that passion? The answer is yes, you can find your passion, and no you needn't necessarily starve. So how do you go about it? I started drawing and doing art work at a very young age. I loved art class in high school, and even sent in one of those matchbook sketches. I was so disappointed when the salesman came to the house and my father said no, I couldn't do it. So I just continued to sketch; do drawings with pastels; then I discovered oil painting. I have not stopped since. I have always said that someday this is how I will make my living, and I will.
You need to recognize that one thing that really makes you happy. It could be anything - numbers, gardening, speaking to people, writing; whatever it may be. Then you need to decide, "Is this something that I would rather do than anything else?" If the answer is yes then you need to commit yourself physically and emotionally to doing so. Search for and find opportunities to practice your passion. Search for and find opportunities to get better at what you've decided to do.
Have patience; diligence, faith, and never give up. You may not make a fortune, but I gaurantee you will be happier and more content!
