Turn Our Passion Into A Career: 4 Ways To Do What We Love

[A collaboration post – all thoughts are my own. This article was originally published in January 2022 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.]

Most of us fail to understand why it is important to turn our passion into a career. If you love what you do, then work is not work but rather an interesting and joyful experience.

Do what you love, love what you do.

This has become my daily affirmation. I’m the type of person who does what makes me feel good and doesn’t give a damn about what other people think. Because I enjoy writing, I am happy working as a content writer for my site. Being a content writer or blogger is my passion and a profession that I love.

Regrettably, professions have long been linked with serious career options, as well as those that are financially rewarding and stable. When we think of a career, the first thing that comes to mind is a busy person dressed in suits working at a desk in a formal office setting. Most parents feel the same way, including mine.

We imagine a writer working from home with a planner and papers on the desk, a photographer sneaking behind a tiger for that ideal shot, or a digital nomad working from any place. Our thoughts are so cluttered with stereotypes that we can’t see beyond the ordinary.

After all, most of us are quite comfortable with pursuing our passion as a hobby or leisure-time activity. Not many of us would consider making a career out of our passion. We fail to realize that passion and career go hand in hand. But this thinking needs to change. Perhaps, this is why we fail to establish the connection between passion and career.

What’s the use of pursuing a career without a passion for it and why not make your passions your career? Is it that hard to digest? Well, the answer is yes.

It is a common scenario that we end up taking jobs we hate. The next thing we know, years have passed. Poor performance at the workplace and lack of interest in your job is not merely due to your carelessness. It is because your job is not what makes you feel happy. It does not bring you the sense of achievement and fulfillment that you expect from doing a particular activity.

Your passions and interests may lie in a completely different field from your profession and due to this, you may not be able to perform well at your workplace. Keep in mind that one of the most frustrating things in your adult life is to find yourself working a job that you are not really passionate about.

Stress and anxiety are some of the main mental health problems in the world today. Not only because of pandemics, but the root cause of these issues is also the lack of fulfillment and purpose in life. Following your passions, it would give you something in life to look forward to and also make you feel like you have achieved more than just satisfying your material needs.

Why is it so hard to turn our passion into a career?

Turning your passions into a career may seem like a dream to some of us. Most people would admit that it is even too late to be changing career paths at this point in their lives and some may not be able to afford that change due to financial commitments.

My parents really wanted me to work in a government office because it was also promising for my future. But for now, I still love my job as a freelance translator and blogger. I enjoy it because I can manage my own time, work the way I want, and allow me to work from anywhere.

But is that the real reason why it is so hard to turn our passions into a profession? Here are a few reasons why it has become so hard for us to turn our passion into a career:

• Lack of acceptance or support from family, friends, and the society
• Societal norms on following traditional career paths regardless of what your interests are
• Failure to identify and invest in your passions
• Being trapped, financially or otherwise in your current profession
• Fear of failure

How can I turn my passion into a career?

It is not a simple task to turn our passion into a career and certainly not one that can be achieved overnight. But of course, anything can be achieved if you set your mind to it and the same concept applies to converting your passions into your career. So here are some guides on how to turn your passion into a career that you need to do, let’s learn together:

Identifying where your passions lie

This step is already crystal clear as we are well aware of where our passions and interests lie. Remember, your passions do not necessarily have to be something big nor does it have to mirror what your social circle approves of for an interest. It can be the most simple thing that makes you happy and enthusiastic.

Is there any hobby that you really love to do? Do you love to write? Or perhaps you love to dance? Or play instruments? Or are you the type who simply loves new technology?

Pay attention to what makes you happy and you will be able to discover your passion very easily. Your passion could be anything from writing, dancing, singing, painting, helping others, cooking, or even traveling the world. Anything that makes you feel happy and alive, is what you are passionate about.

Working towards your passions

Once you have identified what your passions are, you need to work toward your passions. Simply identifying your passions will add no meaning to your lives, you need to get engaged with your passions. Make some time out of your hectic schedule to focus on what you are passionate about.

Keep in mind that people are only willing to pay for your services if you are really good at something. For example, if you’re really good at interpreting a certain language, people will reach out to you when they need an over-the-phone interpretation service. So, in order to make a career out of your passion, you need to be considered a pro at it.

Working towards your passions need not be a formal learning process. You can learn by doing and of course, the more you are interested in something, you would want to learn more about it. For instance, if you love blogging, then perhaps it would help if you could get a blogging course on the weekends. It is a great way to enhance your skills.

Merging your passion into your career

This step may not be easy and most people give up on the thought of turning their passions into a career. You might be criticized, mocked, and laughed at but do not be discouraged. If you back down now you might regret it for the rest of your life.

It is okay to make mistakes the first time around. What is important is to learn from mistakes and have an open mind. This way, you will be able to improve and turn your passion into a career. Results will vary depending on the situation or other unseen factors that could play a role in the success or failure of your venture.

You have to remember that the worst thing is keeping a job that you are unhappy with. Could you imagine doing this for years? So, get out there and take the first step to turn your passion into your dream job. After all, you only live once, and shouldn’t life be about pursuing your passions rather than a 9 to 5 job that gives you everything but happiness and a purpose in life.

Continue to invest in your passion

Once you have decided on the path of following your passions, the journey does not end there. You need to continue to invest in your passions. Just like me, I keep investing in my passion as a translator and content writer even though I’ve been doing it for years already.

Take time to learn something new and find a new purpose in pursuing your passions. If writing is what you are passionate about, then try something new besides working on your latest books. You could start running your blog or offering copywriting service. Investing in your passion will help you grow and succeed in both your personal and professional life.

Is it worth trying to turn our passion into a career?

The answer is a definite yes. You live only once so it is up to you to make sure that you live life to the fullest. Instead of chasing an unhappy job that merely pays the bills, why would you want to miss out on the excitement of chasing your dream job.

By turning your passion into a career, I would not be mistaken in stating that it is living your dream life. After all, you can find joy in what you do. Therefore, forging a career path that revolves around your passions would bring about a sense of peace that you cannot derive from merely doing a job that you do not care much for.

So, have you identified where is your passion lies? Do you love the job you have now? Let me know your thoughts below!