Passion, bills and life
We are told to find our passion. But what if passion doesn’t pay the bills?
If one’s passion is music, the arts, history, pop culture, etc., how does that translate into income? Sure, some people can make a living in those fields, but, in general, they are very few.
Recent college graduates are told to find their passion. In fact, their passion, their immediate passion, may be to find a job, preferably in the field in which they were educated. In today’s market, that’s not always easy.
There are JOBS, and there are jobs. Some jobs pay well. Some don’t pay that much. Some jobs can turn into careers. Others only pay for food, housing and other necessities.
If you can make a living doing what you are passionate about, you are among the lucky ones. If you can get rich doing it, you’re in heaven.
You can find your passion, make a living, even get rich all at the same time. That is how:
First, find your passion regardless of your earning potential. Second, if there is little earning potential in your passion, find something you can do that buys your necessities and gives you time to pursue your passion. Third, find a way to create an additional income stream while working at your job AND pursuing your passion.
BUILD A LIFE! DON’T MAKE A LIVING
The trick here is to build a life over time. There may be a period when you have to build a life around your income-generating activities. If you follow the steps above, you will eventually create an income in your life.
Few of us have a life given to us. Some of us are given opportunities. Others look for opportunities that may not be in sight. Passion is the essential ingredient to building a life, if not an income. Passion gives a person something to live for, something to work for, and goals to work toward. It may not produce the dollars and cents he would like, but it brings a person to life.
We have all met people who go through the motions of life. They work hard, complain a lot, pay their bills, raise families, and help others. But there is no fire, no spark in their lives. It may seem like they’re not looking for a fire or a spark, but they are. It may come to them when they least expect it.
There are others who pursue their passion since childhood. Their passion may have nothing to do with how they make a living, but it has everything to do with how they make a living. They may not have time to do some things, but they always have time to pursue their passion.
Still others find their passions later in life. Perhaps it suddenly occurs to them. Perhaps for a long time they never knew what they were looking for, until they found it. Maybe it was a spiritual awakening. Perhaps it was a hidden talent for years. Maybe they just met the person who changed their lives.
Passion can permeate any of us. We just have to quit, if we haven’t already. Maybe, just maybe, the right income earner can instill in us a passion we never thought we’d have.
If passion is lacking in your life, look around you. Ask other people close to you what they are passionate about. Find something in your work life that inspires you. Join a group that can help you find your passion. Passion can’t pay the bills, in some cases. But it will pay dividends in your life that are priceless.
