Do you view work as just a job or are you lucky enough to
follow your passion? In a recent article,
Jason Powers, M.D., asserts that following your passion is a brave choice that
pays back over the years with increased happiness and better health.
Powers references a controversial TED talk, Why
You Will Fail to Have a Great Career, by economics professor Larry
Smith. As Smith later said, “We’re all
worse for it if the person who should be an actor isn’t, or the person who
should be an accountant isn’t.”
Following your passion isn’t just a smart career move; it leads to
greater fulfillment and an increased sense of purpose. Melding your passion into your career may
not be the easiest task, but is worth it in the long run. As Larry Smith wrote, “Some passions may
afford a career and some may not. But
look for another passion. Keep
searching. Don’t live for the weekend
and hope that you can golf enough to get you through another week.”
Powers shares the experience of being chastised by a friend
for “not bringing more cowbell,” referencing the classic Saturday Night Live
sketch with Will Ferrell. In other
words, in order to make our work important and bearable, we must bring the
maximum amount of character strengths and passion for life that we
possess. As many of us will be working
later into our golden years, it is vital that we rekindle our professional
passions and find our niche in the workforce.
Have you made the choice to follow your passion at
work?
How can we follow our passion and still pay the bills?
Should we encourage young people to follow their passion when selecting a career?
