"Follow your passion" is advice you often hear from the more optimistic and positive people in your life. As I grow older, these words seem to ring in my ears as I feel I'm not doing enough to chase my dreams. Don't get me wrong, I'm extremely happy with my life, but I just feel that my creative side is stifled by my obligations in the 'real world'. I don't want to look back on the next 5 years of my life when I reach the age of 30 and regret the time I've spent from now until then. And I bet you feel exactly the same way. For any change, you need to get outside your comfort zone.
Don't let life run away with you
My dad always wanted to be an architect. But his father, as best as he knew, told him a more direct path into the business world would serve him better. He worked his way up the corporate ladder, through all of he toughest times. He didn't enjoy a lot of it, but he had a family to support. So he did what he needed to. As part of a new generation, I'd like to believe we have the option to pursue our passions before life does become too serious.
2 months ago I went home to visit my incredible family in the near-Durban rainforest I call home. My dad told me to quit my job, get a new tenant on my lease, and go travel. And since then, it's all I can think about. Although I am scared, it's taking the first step into change that opens up possibilities.
*My dad is a brilliant entrepreneur and an inspiration to me. My wish for him is that he starts to take his photography seriously as we both know how much happiness it brings him.
Find your passion
It takes time to realise your passion, so you need to spend time working on it. Since I broke my back and began playing guitar, my musical world has greatly expanded. My rugby career whose abrupt end brought me many tears is now a long forgotten past. And this is OK. It's alright to be disappointed and confused, because being uncomfortable allows you to discover things about yourself.
It's interesting how passions change. As much as I still love watching rugby, and The Sharks, I feel little when I miss a game nowadays. Maybe I've just grown tired of the way we worship teams like religion, and how this worship can cause divides between people. Or maybe my other passions have just taken priority.
Qualifications aren't needed
Some people don't have the skills required to follow what they have found to be their passion. And it is true - we live in a world where due to specialisation, some jobs require qualifications or extensive knowledge and experience to pursue. But that doesn't mean you can't work out a way to participate.
My girlfriend has always wanted to work in wildlife. To help the people and animals of our great African continent. But she is often told she needs a Vetinary degree of some sorts, which she does not have. She will not let that stop her. She is always looking for ways in. Maybe her meeting with a wildlife photographer today will open a door for her, who knows? But in the mean time, we watch documentaries and discuss these people that are fortunate enough to be able to work on these things each day. And through this her passion grows.
Jack of all trades or master of one?
By focussing on one thing you will most certainly advance faster. After all, all you need is 10 000 hours of experience before you become a master. But by pursuing multiple passions you could find new experiences along the way that grab your attention and allow you to grow. Balance and prioritisation is key.
As much as I love user experience design, and for a time I believed I should take it up full time as a job, I now know that I would be restricting myself if that's all I did. So I continue to pursue it in as many ways I can, and I am fortunate that it aligns with my job, but it by no means my only passion.
Accept that some passion is short term
We've all had it. Those moments when we find something new or feel the spark of an idea - as the excitement overwhelms us we get carried away. Sometimes it lasts for a couple of weeks, or maybe months, but then it passes. I think that these types of passions are important as they can open your mind by diversifying your thoughts. For instance, you may try out surfing and find you love it, but after a few months that wetsuit you bought doesn't seem to hold back that cold Cape water as well as you thought. So you stop. But as long as you loved it, it made you smile or you grew through it, it was worth it.
Leave your comfort zone to make changes
When choosing a new path it's important that you look at the worst case scenario. You need to decide whether you would be able to make your life work even if everything collapsed. It's very much another balancing act, and one that is extremely scary. But in order to make things happen, and to be able to follow your passions, sometimes all that is really needed is some change. Great things seldom happen when you live in your comfort zone.
Your job could match your passion
Some people are lucky enough to have their jobs and passions perfectly aligned. But anyone who tells you that they are completely happy with everything they have to do is probably lying. But by focusing on the aspects of your job that you truly enjoy, you will find days are far more pleasurable.
Unfortunately we will always have to complete the more tedious tasks in life, but by concentrating on the positive ones you'll be happier and do better work in these areas. And maybe one day the drive and extra effort you put into this area will pay off and your boss will see the value in moving your job description to do what you love full time. Other people believe by aligning your passion with your job, you never have to work a day in your life.
Finances block pursuit of passion
Only if you allow them to. I'm looking at joining a startup, becoming a writer for Buffer, or just resigning from my job so I can pursue my personal projects and make music. But I can't make any of these decisions without financial surety. No matter what happens, I have to be able to afford my lease until the end of the year.
That doesn't mean I can't find my passion and pursue it in the extra time I have. Don't let yourself get caught up in the corporate culture of a 'steady' job. Yes financial surety is a great thing, but it is also incredibly restrictive. The reason you keep getting those little salary increases is because they don't want you to go anywhere. At least jump ship and get a larger salary bump. And you'll learn something new, with some new people. Who knows what wonderful things these new interactions will teach you about yourself.
Moonlighting your passion
My uncle Stuart has always had a passion for music, but did not pursue it full time. He did however work his arse off to build a large company that is on the JSE, and now he has all the money he needs to buy various instruments and all other equipment. The important thing is that he maintained this passion and love of music by spending time on it - at night, playing gigs on weekends and more.
In order to grow you should continuously cultivate your passion. It makes sense that we avoid jumping full tilt into our passion by quitting our job as there is great risk involved with leaving behind stability. Make sure you try and squeeze in an hour or two each day to cultivate what you love. You will not regret it.
Find and follow your passion
So get out there, make a change. Discover new things you love, work on the things you already know that get you going. And do it all with passion. It's alright to let it consume you on some days. And when you find a passion, explore it. There is much wonder in the world. Don't live your life without experiencing it.
Maybe you need to escape your boring life to find some inspiration?