Do what you love.
In following one’s passion, this has been a common advice that we grew to follow. But have we actually been able to do what we truly love?
On reading Miya Tokumitsu’s criticism of how “doing what you love” is a big myth, we don’t usually perceive work as taking on the jobs because it needs to be done – we do our jobs because it involves passion. Doing our jobs should not only provide for our living expenses but rather make us happy in doing it. However, for Miya, the need to feel good is kind of hedonistic where “we always have be relentlessly seeking these ‘good feelings.’”
Through the three to four years we spend in college, we pursue our passions whether it may be through our own courses or through various organizations. As we go on and do what we think we love, our education keeps us grounded to the knowledge we learn and to the path of our future. While our involvement in organizations allows us to have the freedom and enjoyment to follow our passions.
Being involved in organizations, photography taught me how to look at the world in various perspectives, but what drives me is not just by capturing the decisive moments. As a photojournalist, the job is to capture moments and deliver the news to the people immediately. The sense of urgency along with the pressure it carries definitely made me go beyond my capabilities.
In doing this for years, what started off as a hobby, turned into more of a job that needed to be done. There were instances wherein I don’t love what I do anymore, but a job is a job that needs to be done whether I like it or not. It is uncommon to not enjoy the things we used to love, especially when it involves the responsibilities of our work. Although this is only an experience from a student in a college organization, it concerns me how people actually do what they love in their careers and not lose their passion in the long run.
Going back to the whole culture of the need to feel good in our jobs, it is actually essential though it may be hedonistic at times. There is nothing wrong in striving to do more and to want more. Instead, it indicates how we are lacking on what we should do about our passion. We must take responsibility of our passion as it is not determined in an instant but rather developed wherever our hobbies, experiences, and challenges lead us.
Graduating from college is just the beginning of applying one’s passion towards your career path. On reading Angel Duckworth’s advice for young graduates, this sheds light on how to not “follow your passion” but rather, “foster your passion.” Have we been able to do what we truly love? We may have been doing what we love if we know how to keep on striving for our passion.
In fostering her passion in psychology, Angel believes that “doing it well can contribute to the well-being of other people.” In “doing what you love,” we should give importance on how we perform certain roles in our society. According to Miya, if we think about how “I’m doing something that other people are relying on,” that is such a different way to regard work. Though this may sound as a responsibility in contributing for society, this little shift of perceiving work and passion may allow us to further foster our passion by always reminding ourselves of the meaning and purpose of our passion in society.
