Are you supposed to like what you do?

angelxsss
angelxsss Posts: 2,402 Member
edited November 17 in Chit-Chat
Do you think you're supposed to find something you enjoy to do for a living, or do you think it's more about just finding something that doesn't suck your soul out of your body and pays the bills?
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Replies

  • Carillon_Campanello
    Carillon_Campanello Posts: 726 Member
    edited March 2017
    Option 1 - Sometimes you do what you want to do (may include doing what you have to do).
    Option 2 - Sometimes you do what you have to do (may include doing what you want to do).
    If you want the lights to stay on, option 2.
    Parts in parenthesis are strictly situational and in 99% of cases (number completely guesstimated) you'll be doing something that sucks your soul most days of the week.

    Despite that grim reality I hope you have a nice day.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    edited March 2017
    In an ideal world, we'd all love what we do. As it is, I don't think that's usually the case. If I was truly doing what I wanted to do career wise, it's more likely that not that I would be struggling financially...it would also be burdensome for my family.

    I don't love what I do, nor do I hate it...I couldn't imagine getting up and going to something that I loathed. For the most part, my employer is great and very flexible with many things...they pay relatively well and I don't really have any financial burdens. Bills are paid, food is on the table, we have a decent enough home (though certainly not posh living) and we have disposable income for vacations and travel. Our only real debt is our mortgage and a small car payment on my car...wife's is paid off and mine will be soon. All in all, I'm in a pretty good place and my family is taken care of which is my number one priority.
  • Riffraft1960
    Riffraft1960 Posts: 1,984 Member
    I work to live, not live to work. I do what brings me the most money so I can do other things outside of work.
  • browneyedgirl749
    browneyedgirl749 Posts: 4,984 Member
    I love what I do. It's the political bs that happens in the office that I don't like.
  • toned_thugs_n_harmony
    toned_thugs_n_harmony Posts: 1,001 Member
    i love what i do and can promise even if my paycheck wasn't so big, i'd still be doing it.
  • AdamAthletic
    AdamAthletic Posts: 2,985 Member
    I found a unique way to target this problem.

    I earn too much with my main job to quit but, it bores the life out of me.

    So, I started doing my personal training more as a second job and getting heavily involved in health and fitness around the community that I live.
    Started a couple of community projects and devoted my time to that.

    Which, makes my mundane - boring job manageable because I have things to look forward to afterwards!
  • maybe1pe
    maybe1pe Posts: 529 Member
    I actually took a job thinking I would hate it but it would pay the bills. But I actually love it. If I hadn't just tried it I never would have guessed this is a profession I love.
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  • angelxsss
    angelxsss Posts: 2,402 Member
    How do you figure out what's going to make you happy? My plan A is basically out the window and I have no plan B and no idea what a possible plan B would even be.
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  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,179 Member
    Always be curious. Always be learning. Always be flexible.
  • FreyasRebirth
    FreyasRebirth Posts: 514 Member
    I think people are better off pursuing what they are good at, rather than what they think they'd like. It would not be a fun place to be if you were terrible at a job you thought you'd love. Whether or not you always like a job you are good at, you probably stand a higher chance of being recognized for doing it well.
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  • synchkat
    synchkat Posts: 37,368 Member
    You spend a lot of your life working so you might as well enjoy it. Probably one of the reasons there's so many miserable people in the world is because they hate what they do for a living and dread having to have their soul slowing sucked out.

    Start thinking of what things make you happy and you are happy doing then you'll find a plan b
  • KassLea22
    KassLea22 Posts: 112 Member
    Finding a job that I loved changed my happiness level astronomically. I think you should find something that you're interested in and pursue that. Normally in my experience with the people I know, most people have a passion and they have something they love doing. I would hate getting up every day and going to a job where I wasn't fulfilled or doing something meaningful.

    Whoever I have met a few people who were genuinely content working minimum-wage and making enough to pay the rent and buy clothes and stuff. Not saying there's anything wrong with minimum wage jobs but I thought it was odd that they didn't want to do anything else....
  • Timshel_
    Timshel_ Posts: 22,834 Member
    angelxsss wrote: »
    Do you think you're supposed to find something you enjoy to do for a living, or do you think it's more about just finding something that doesn't suck your soul out of your body and pays the bills?

    Both really. I had plenty of jobs that I did for $$ that I was really, REALLY good at, but it wasn't like they were a calling for me in life. I didn't feel personal fulfillment, but had personal satisfaction in what I did. It is about leveraging your skills to find things to maximize what is important to you. For most starting out, that is plain ol' hard cash and things. So you find something you can do that makes you money. Nice thing about getting older is, you need and want less so you can pick and choose a bit more in what you do.
  • kbmnurse
    kbmnurse Posts: 2,484 Member
    Both
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  • divcara
    divcara Posts: 357 Member
    Do you something you enjoy or can tolerate to the point that you are not miserable and hating life every day going to work. Something that pays the bills also helps. I have mixed feelings about, "Do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life." Be careful that doesn't turn your favorite hobby or pastime into a job...and it becomes a job. Instead of something you love that was your way to relax.

    I had the "exciting" big impressive, glamour corporate job. I met a lot of interesting people, did a lot of pretty neat things, and had some very neat experiences. By the end, I was burnt out, stressed out, miserable - and had gained over 50 pounds. I traveled all the time. Paid rent for an apartment I was never in. Never saw friends or family. No time for a relationship. Or ever had any energy left from my soul sucking day to actually go out, look and act presentable, and meet anyone.

    Left it all, moved to a place where there was a better quality of life and slower pace. Got away from a toxic environment. Took a huge pay cut. Do some work with a non-profit, but it's rewarding and meaningful. I am a nicer, more balanced, happier person. I took a part time retail job to help pay the bills. A huge change from big corporate career girl. But you know what - I prefer being on my feet instead of stuck at a desk. I enjoy personal interaction and helping people. And the best part of all - the ONLY time I hear from someone outside from work hours - is an email with my schedule. No calls at 10pm at night. No dreaded emails in the midst of a family vacation that ruin the day. Or having to find a business center on my vacation to get someone powerpoint slides. My down time and time off the clock is my own and there is something to be said for that.

    I don't regret my previous life - and it helped make me who I am. But I can tell you I left that world. make a whole lot less, but dropped over 60 pounds, have a whole lot less stress, look forward to get up and starting my day instead of dreading it. Have seen more family and friends in the last six months than in the previous six years.

    I think there has to be a balance, but there aren't many jobs worth sucking your soul.
  • youdowant
    youdowant Posts: 69 Member
    This is kind of hypothetical. Many people don't truly have any option. They do what they have to to make ends meet. For them, a job's a job. However, may others have the freedom and means to seek out a career field that fits their interests. It's just different for all of us. Saying that everyone has the ability to seek out their dream job is just ignorant. It's as foolish as saying no one likes Trump.
  • beerfoamy
    beerfoamy Posts: 1,520 Member
    I don't like having to work. I have always been what I call an office monkey - pays the bills and I get a pretty active life outside. Plus I honestly cannot care about it, so come 5pm, I am gone!
    But, even if I could survive from my drawing or some unknown as yet other skill, I would probably hate having to make deadlines and get commissions to people on time after a while.

    If someone could pay me to do what I want and go where I want, when I want, that'd be great!
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    Well a job is not always the ultimate in life fulfillment. Sometimes it is what you do so you can do other things you love.
    You might need to take a job you do not love to gain experience or pay for further training/education to get closer to where you want to be
    If you can find something you like to do that pays your bills then I think that is optimal.
    If you find something you like that doesn't pay much it might be worth downgrading your lifestyle to live on less.
    If a job is super stressful and poisons your whole life then it is probably not worth it. There are other jobs.
    Obviously you have to feed yourself and your family so sometimes you might have to take a job you just tolerate or a completely sucky job especially starting out.
    I think people change jobs and careers more these days than they used to. I don't think it is unusual for someone to move into a different field after working a few years.

    You might find this book helpful-
    https://www.amazon.com/What-Color-Your-Parachute-2017-ebook/dp/B018CHA0L6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1490790991&sr=8-1&keywords=what+color+is+your+parachute
    I got the teen version for my daughter and I think it is helpful.
  • jamcdonel
    jamcdonel Posts: 533 Member
    I love what I do, but I do not love the venue or circumstances. I do not like being under-utilized. I do not like "starting over" again, for the fourth time. I do not like being self-employed. I am not an entrepreneur.
    But , needs= must.
  • KassLea22
    KassLea22 Posts: 112 Member
    edited March 2017
    youdowant wrote: »
    This is kind of hypothetical. Many people don't truly have any option. They do what they have to to make ends meet. For them, a job's a job. However, may others have the freedom and means to seek out a career field that fits their interests. It's just different for all of us. Saying that everyone has the ability to seek out their dream job is just ignorant. It's as foolish as saying no one likes Trump.

    I don't agree with this. I don't think it's as much about having the freedom or means, it's about having the drive and the patience to get to where you want to be.

    I grew up in a small town in Montana and after college I moved out to a big city all by myself after basically never living outside my small town, started at the very bottom of my career field doing a terrible job for a couple years, and I worked my way up to doing my dream job in a big city.

    To be honest I think it's kind of a copout to say some people don't have the ability or the means when if you really want something you can get yourself there. I'm not saying it's going to be easy, and you definitely have to be willing to start at the bottom and pay your dues, but it's not impossible or unreasonable. I think a large problem I've seen is that people don't want to pay their dues and work their way up. They want to start out at the top when that's not going to happen most likely. I think people also get a frayed to leave their comfort zones and find a new job or tell themselves that they can't.
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