This is a response to “Doing What You Love Is Always Worth It, No Matter The Payoff”

Doing what you love is easier said than done. In a society that focuses more on pay rather than passion, doing what you love is probably on the back burner. As a high schooler, I worked in a restaurant that served soup. Not really my passion, but I worked for the money I needed to go to college. Something shifted in college though, as I observed the true passion and love that some of my professors had for their focus of study. Through great opportunities, like studying abroad and learning about the topics that I’m interested in, I’ve learned that although my future career may not be as lucrative as others, I’ll be doing what I love.

Doing what you love could be about your current study or your current job. As the author mentioned in the original article, switching her major to something she was passionate about led her to feel confidence and joy. Working in a career that sparks your passion can create a similar feeling of excitement and positive energy. Here are some benefits of following your passion, even if the money doesn’t immediately follow.

Goodbye stress, hello healthy immune system. Every job and major can have its own stressors. But when you work in an environment where you’re constantly stressed and doing something you don’t enjoy, this can lead to physical and emotional illnesses due to your immune system being compromised. Doing something you love = Less stress = Healthy immune system!

Forget coffee, here’s a better energy boost. Knowing that what you will be doing at your job throughout the day is something you’re passionate about will make you excited to start your day and keep you energized as you continue.

Confidence is key. When you’re doing something you love, you’ll be using your natural talents and interests to help you along the way. You’ll build upon these components of yourself every day with new experiences, building on a positive foundation of actually enjoying what you do. This will lead you to be confident in the workplace and beyond.

Gain self-motivation and love for life. When you’re not happy with what you’re doing in your career, this frustration and stress can impact other areas of your life. This negative work experience can negatively impact your relationships with your loved ones and your perspective on life. Doing something you love makes you happier, positively impacting how you work with others and your ability to enjoy sometimes mundane aspects of life.

As I mentioned before, doing what you love is sometimes easier said than done. For example, having a family to provide for may mean doing anything you can to support them, even if it’s not something you love. Additionally, every person is different in what they’re passionate about. This article isn’t to say that you can’t enjoy your life if your job isn’t something you adore. Rather, it’s to show that when you focus your energy and attention on something you love every day, it can positively impact your well-being. So if you’re in the defining decade like me, don’t be afraid to explore your passions. Make the most of the time that you have before having responsibilities and commitments that may prevent you to be able to do something you love in return for a higher salary.