My dad wanted me to be a doctor, a lawyer, a real estate guru…something that would ensure my financial security and sound impressive to friends and family. With his perception of my best interests at heart, he scoffed when I said I wanted to write. To him, this was the equivalent of saying, “I want to be broke and homeless,” and he would simply pretend I was joking.
Within the structure of our society it can be hard to find a balance between practicality and passion. Being practical means ensuring a dependable income, with the result that many students choose their major for one reason: to get a high-paying job. This concept of practicality is accepted and expected for many people. Passion, on the other hand, is more readily associated with artists and activists who have thrown stability to the wind in order to pursue whimsical ideals. It seems that practicality is safe and secure, while passion is potentially dangerous and misleading.
I propose that there is a happy middle ground—and room enough in any career plan for both practicality and passion. I would even argue that a goal without passion is not practical: with so many options available, it just doesn’t make sense to choose a path that you can’t truly enjoy. Keep an open mind to possibility and explore combinations that bring you the best of both worlds.
Start by identifying your passions, then consider practical ways to apply them.
Identify passion:
• Is this how I want to spend the time of my life?
• Do I feel excited and expansive when I think about doing this?
• Am I drawn to spontaneous conversation and synchronistic discovery when I investigate this idea?
• If I didn’t have to worry about money, would I do this for free?
Identify practicality:
• Who will benefit from this service?
• What specific needs are being met by this endeavor?
• Is there an established market for this type of work?
• How can this be adapted to suit different environments and demographics?
Occupational Wellness says you can be well, and well off!
Within the structure of our society it can be hard to find a balance between practicality and passion. Being practical means ensuring a dependable income, with the result that many students choose their major for one reason: to get a high-paying job. This concept of practicality is accepted and expected for many people. Passion, on the other hand, is more readily associated with artists and activists who have thrown stability to the wind in order to pursue whimsical ideals. It seems that practicality is safe and secure, while passion is potentially dangerous and misleading.
I propose that there is a happy middle ground—and room enough in any career plan for both practicality and passion. I would even argue that a goal without passion is not practical: with so many options available, it just doesn’t make sense to choose a path that you can’t truly enjoy. Keep an open mind to possibility and explore combinations that bring you the best of both worlds.
Start by identifying your passions, then consider practical ways to apply them.
Identify passion:
• Is this how I want to spend the time of my life?
• Do I feel excited and expansive when I think about doing this?
• Am I drawn to spontaneous conversation and synchronistic discovery when I investigate this idea?
• If I didn’t have to worry about money, would I do this for free?
Identify practicality:
• Who will benefit from this service?
• What specific needs are being met by this endeavor?
• Is there an established market for this type of work?
• How can this be adapted to suit different environments and demographics?
Occupational Wellness says you can be well, and well off!
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