Choice between passion and practicality

I wanted to share some thoughts on a topic I’m deeply fascinated by, that many of us grapple with and only a few can say they have mastered, but it doesn’t have to be this way – the conundrum of choosing between passion and practicality in our careers.  

All too often, we find ourselves torn between pursuing what we love and opting for a path that we think offers stability and security, still persuaded by prominent societal norms to pursue something it considers the done thing, who cares if you enjoy it. This many times comes at the expense of our happiness, being true to ourselves and our self-actualisation. All too often, we don’t even know what we love to do, at the time we are expected to make this momentous decision about our future, which can lead to all sorts of problems down the line.

Passion and practicality have their own merits, of course, but what we are often not aware of is that there is a third option. The amalgamation of those two in the making.

When considering your career choices, it's essential to reflect on what truly excites you. Passion is the driving force that keeps us motivated and engaged, even during challenging times. It fuels creativity and innovation, and leads us to our peak performance, making work feel less like a chore and more like a meaningful pursuit.

If choosing to pursue your passion, that is, doing something you love, can’t wait to wake up to and share with the world, it would make sense to pursue it, right? Yet, 75 % of the UK population is disengaged from their work and thus their true career paths. Let alone know about the healing quality of doing something you love.

The question thus prevails: why is this? Why are we all not doing what we love? Why has passion and purpose got such a bad rep in society? When did this aversion to passion start? Surely, being satisfied with our careers would bring more benefits for everyone. We’d be happier, more productive and live longer.

These are questions we need to ask ourselves before we discard the concept that passion and meaning are hogwash and can’t be included in our career journey.

It, of course, is important to be aware of the practical aspects, such as job market demand, financial stability, and long-term growth opportunities; however, if you really want to do something, even these aspects become secondary, despite the general belief to the contrary. I don’t mean it will be easy to carve out this unique path for yourself, but it will be worth it. And it is that ‘worth it’ that you need to define for yourself. Your why.

By blending passion with practicality, you can create a career path that is both rewarding and financially sustainable.

Practicality ensures that we can sustain ourselves and our loved ones while building a stable future, but a passion and purpose-driven career enables us to be happy, feel energised, create something bigger than ourselves, feel like our life matters, and we are making a difference in the world, and get paid for it. It has a huge positive rippling effect throughout our career, our mental health and physical health, and life in general.

It is thus important to find a balance that works for you before you go all in. It might mean pursuing your passion as a side project at first while maintaining a practical job or finding a career that aligns with both your interests and practical needs. Your career journey is unique, and there's no one-size-fits-all answer, so before you discard passion altogether, take the time to explore your options, choose your mentors wisely, and trust your instinct and interests. By blending passion with practicality, you can create a career path that is both rewarding and financially sustainable.