“Everybody has a story and there is something to be learnt from every experience.” Oprah Winfrey
Over the past couple of months, I have been extremely fortunate to have interviewed many inspiring people who had the courage to pursue their dreams. Each and every one of them has taught me something unique and valuable about its journey. In this article, I share the biggest lessons I've learnt from each story in hopes that they bring you one step closer to finding and following your own passion.
1. Nothing Will Happen Until You Take The First Step
A portrait of Jimmy Hendrix handmade by Kervin Rojas on a canvas made out of denim pieces.
It’s easy to get sidetracked and blame your circumstances when things are not going according to your plan. Not having enough time, money, and experience, are among the most cited excuses for not following your dreams.
And, it certainly can be challenging to leave your day job — which pays the bills — behind and start living the life you’ve always wanted. But the truth is — you don’t need to do that. At least, not right away.
All you really need is to start making small adjustments to your daily routine. Starting small, like enrolling into an evening course or skipping an episode (or two) of the show you watch regularly, can make a big difference to the course of your life. But, the key is: you need to start dedicating time to the projects which truly matter to you in order to accomplish them.
READ: A Good Pair Of Denim is A Piece of Art: The Story of Kervin Rojas
2. Passion = Process
Fashion Illustration by Nadeesha Godammune of @Mokshini
Every passion consists of a combination of tasks it requires you to do. For example, if you are an illustrator — apart from drawing itself — you interact with the people you sketch (or sketch for); you use your creativity in order to come up with original and engaging content; you figure out colors and proportions, etc. This is true for pretty much any other profession. As such, in order to be truly happy with what you do for living, you need to enjoy the process your passion entails (or at least the majority of it).
READ: You Need to Spend Time Sifting: The Story of Nadeesha Godamunne
3. Pay Attention To Your Interests and Emotions
I absolutely adore and admire the story of Max Taylor — finance professional turned photographer. What I’ve learnt from Max’s journey is that sometimes the thing that gets you interested in what you think is your passion, can lead you to discovering your true passion.
In Taylor’s case, there was a certain rush he enjoyed about trading and markets, which ultimately made him enjoy photography. Therefore, paying attention to your interests and emotions can be very valuable, as it can often guide you to your true calling.
READ: From Wall Street to Street Peddler: The Story of Max Taylor
4. Trust Your Gut Instincts
It is fascinating how people who follow their passions tend to talk positively about their jobs. They feel content with their career choices and, for the most part, with where their careers are heading. On the other hand, people who are not passionate about what they do tend to find more reasons to complain about.
If you hear that little voice inside of you saying, ‘this is not the job for me; this is not where I’m supposed to be’ — don’t ignore it. Listen to it. It is your intuition telling you that you need to keep searching for the work you were truly meant to be doing in life.
READ: Do What You Love and Love What you Do: The Story of Gina Kleinschmidt
5. Money Does Not Equal Happiness
“Everyone has been made for some particular work, and the desire for that work has been put in every heart.” Rumi
I couldn’t agree with this statement more. I believe that every person possesses a gift that he or she was meant to bring into this world. Yet, too often we talk ourselves out of pursuing our dreams because of the fear they will not generate sufficient income and, consequently, settle in for 'comfortable' and 'stable' jobs instead. The problem with the so-called 'comfortable' jobs is that they will never make you satisfied, no matter the size of the paycheck. Therefore, it is important to nurture your gifts, especially in your spare time, as, ultimately, they will make your soul truly happy and fulfilled.
READ: Violin Defines Me As a Person: The Story of Filip Pogady
6. Hard Work vs. Talent
Pieces from the Spring Collection by Durrah Jewellery
What is more important to achieving success: hard work or talent?
I’ve struggled with answering this question until Durrah Khalil pointed out this great quote: ‘Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard’.
We are often made to believe that it is easy for talented people to achieve success. We look at competent individuals talented and, often times, disregard their hard work for luck. But, the truth is, anyone who has ever achieved anything great had to work for it. Being talented in a particular area does not guarantee success. And, having interviewed many brilliant and successful people, I have come to realize that their achievements were primarily the result of their persistence and determination to achieve their goals.
READ: The Secret of Success is Making Your Vocation Your Vacation: The Story of Durrah Khalil
7. The Power Of Commitment
One of the best pizzas you will ever have in your life: Cherry Jones by PaulieGee
The word ‘commitment’ gets thrown around a lot, but I never fully understood the meaning, and the importance of it, until I met Paulie Gee. One of the things that Paulie taught me is that, if you truly want to achieve a goal — either personal, such as losing weight, or professional, such as getting a new job or starting your own business — you need to commit to it. You have to be serious about it and stick to it, because if you are not, you are going to fall back into your old habits as soon as you encounter obstacles along the way. And, ultimately, you are always going to be stuck in the same place.
READ: I Became Willing to Take a Risk: The Story of Paulie Gee
8. You Have To Be Curious
If there is anything that distinguishes a true passion from a bare interest in a subject, it is curiosity.
People who follow their passions, although skilled and confident in their crafts, almost unanimously admit that they are never done learning. They see endless opportunities to develop, and are not afraid to admit that they don’t know everything, even after decades of mastering their skills.
So if you ever find yourself wondering if you are really passionate or barely interested in a subject, ask yourself: would I enjoy spending multiple hours each day for the next couple of years learning about that topic or would having a general knowledge of it, and focusing on something else instead, make me satisfied? Chances are, you will be able to eliminate some options through this simple exercise.
9. Life Is Not Going To Be Perfect Even If You Decide To Follow Your Passion
And why should it be? Perfection is boring. Yet, we tend to believe that once we settle for our dream job, all the problems in the world will disappear.
Certainly, doing the things you truly love will make you happy and fulfilled. However, it is important to realize that, even those who pursue their passions encounter negative emotions, such as stress, sadness or anxiety. Such experiences can make you question your career choices, but you should always remember to embrace them as an inevitable part of life.
READ: I Allowed My Students To Think: The Story of Frank Corcoran
10. Nobody Really Cares
This may sound a bit harsh at first, but it is true. Nobody really cares about your dreams except you.
We tend to put so much pressure on ourselves wondering what other people think that we are too afraid to even try to follow our dreams. We struggle with fears of rejection and fears of failure. But the truth is, people are not even thinking about you. They are thinking about themselves and their own goals and aspirations. So don’t be afraid to try and fail, because soon you will realize that nobody even noticed it! And always remember that failure is an opportunity to learn and that the real failures are people who don’t even try.
READ: I Allowed My Students To Think: The Story of Frank Corcoran
Thank you so much for reading this post! What do you think about passion and following it full time? Do you agree/disagree with the lessons mentioned in this post? Please share your comments below!
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