I’m sure many of you, at some point or another, have read an inspirational quote that read something like, “Get a job doing what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.”
Another common phrase I’m sure you’ve heard goes along the lines of, “America: where you can be or do whatever you want, as long as you work hard enough.”
I like the sentiment of statements like these. They mean well, and the idea is nice. It encourages people to pursue their dreams and to be individuals.
Truth be told, I envy people who can do that. I am not one of those people.
Throughout high school, especially in my senior year, I had many people ask if I was going to be a music major in college. Truth be told, there are many people still today who assume I am majoring in music education, and I’m in my junior year of college.
These people have every right to assume this about me. I do love music; in fact, I love it more than almost anything else in the world. If I could do whatever I wanted with my life, that’s what I’d choose. I’d spend my life making beautiful music with friends both old and new.
However, here I am in college, pursuing a degree in English education, which is actually my third career choice, after music and theatre. It’s not that I don’t love teaching English; I really do. It’s just not what I necessarily want to do with my life.
America, as the land of the free, certainly gives people the opportunity to do many things with their lives as far as career goes. It is from this that the American ideal of “doing what you love” has been cultivated.
However, there comes a point when American idealism has to meet reality. Many, if not all, professions require some level of raw, natural talent in order for one to be successful. Not to crush anyone’s dreams, but some people just aren’t cut out to do what they love for a living.
That may seem harsh. However, it’s the blunt truth. When I was thinking about majoring in music, I eventually came to the realization that I don’t have the raw talent or the motivation to be a music major. It’s the same story with majoring in theatre; I would never be successful in that field.
I’ve seen other people who are majoring in something who just shouldn’t be doing that particular thing with their lives, and I always want to give them a reality check. When deciding on a career, doing something you enjoy is certainly important. However, doing something you are truly good at is even more important.
People need to be realistic about their abilities, and they have to be self-aware enough to know their own limitations. One should not choose to be a doctor simply because it is a high-paying profession.
If your natural talents don’t align with the skills necessary for doctoring, then don’t do it. The same can be said of music, teaching, engineering, mechanic work and any other field imaginable.
When it comes to finding that one job God has destined for your life, look at the gifts He’s given you. You may have to settle for second, or even third-best. You may be stuck doing what you don’t love, but that’s OK. Do what you love as a hobby, or as a pastime, but perhaps not as a career.
And who knows? Maybe one day you’ll get to use that hobby in your profession in some way. Be realistic, but don’t lose your love of something in the process. You never know when you’ll get to share that love with others in a positive way, either in or out of the workplace.
