This month has shown me a lot. It has reminded me that I work
well under pressure, that I can be hyper organized, and that I miss using those
skills in my current job. That last revelation is key. I really like my job,
AND I would like to flex the other parts of my brain that aren’t used in my
current position. Until these past few weeks, I have felt uncomfortable with
the idea that I don’t have just ONE passion-related career path that I want to
take. I have a bunch, but I am constantly surrounded by messages of, “Do the
JOB that you are passionate about,” and other similar, simple platitudes that
are thrown around lately.
A part of me gets it. We want everyone to find the thing
that makes them tick, and then we want them to do that thing ALL of the time.
That is the recipe for happiness, right? Sure. We should probably not be
miserable at our jobs every day. I would certainly not wish that on people.
However, another part of me thinks that this whole concept
is some stifling bullshit. It takes away a few pieces that are important:
experimentation and time. I have watched so many young people and more than a
few adults feel guilty about not automatically knowing where their passion
lies. They feel guilty about changing career paths or working several odd jobs
at the same time. Hell, I have felt icky about switching trajectories in the
same field, which is not okay. None of us should feel weird or wrong for taking
our time to try to find our niche(s). Sometimes it takes people (me) a few
tries to figure out what works for them (me). Society sees that as flighty or
directionless; I see it as bravely forging different paths.
I am passionate about a lot of things, and I am tired of
feeling like I need to pick only one. So fuck it. I am not going to. If I want
to be a mental health professional who also organizes events and makes gourmet
chocolate bars while getting her yoga teacher certification, then so be it.
How are you finding your passion(s)?
- Lauren, Life Experimenter
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