A Cynic's Thoughts On Doing What You Love
Is it really possible?
Can you make a living doing what you love?
The short answer is: sure.
The caveat to that answer is: you better know how to keep loving what you're doing.
I'll let you know up front that I'm a cynic when it comes to this idea. Maybe because I'm struggling to find my own success in doing what I "love" to do for a living. On paper I know that it's possible to do it, because I've seen other people do it. I also get that if whatever you love to do provides a service or meets a need for someone else you can get paid to do it. Since that is true it's only reasonable to conclude that you can make a living doing what you love.
The thing that comes with "doing what you love" is all of the stuff you might not "like" doing, so that you can do what you "love".
For example, if you're trying to become a professional writer, say like Stephen King or J.K. Rowling, there's a lot of additional work that you have to do to "make a living".
You need to learn about marketing. You need to actually be good at writing. You need to write a lot. You need to learn how to network. You need to learn how to write for a particular audience. You need to learn how to let someone else edit (read: rip to shreds) your work. You need to learn how to keep writing even when you don't feel like it. You need to learn how to keep writing even when you're rejected multiple times. You need to learn how to find multiple streams of income for your writing (e.g. movies, video games, etc.) You need to learn the business of the book and literary industry. Also, you need to be good.
All of that is possible. All of that is doable. But, it's very likely that while you're learning to do all of that other stuff you might question if you really "love" what you're doing.
You may ask yourself: Do I really want to do this?
Because, when you're trying to make a living off of what you love to do, at some point there will be the added pressure for your "love" to sustain you and advance you in your journey.
It's very different when you're doing what you "love" for fun. It's different when you're doing something strictly for the joy of it. Whether that's your writing, your singing, your painting, your teaching and public speaking, your (insert what you love to do)... it takes on a totally different feel when that thing you "love" to do has to pay your bills at the end of the month.
Can you make a living doing what you love? Of course! You have to make sure you still love it at the end of the day though.
Most people who hate their day job, their daily 9 to 5, their daily grind, ask themselves this question. They want to know because they want to find a way out of something they don't love. Something they hate. Something that makes them feel trapped.
I'm sure at some point in our lives we've been told to do what we love. We've been encouraged to follow our passions and dreams. Is it bad advice? No, I don't necessarily think so. I think the foot note that's typically left out is:
*Caution: Pursuing your passion may not turn out the way you expected. Pursuing your dreams could possibly turn into a nightmare. Doing what you love for a living could possible make you hate what you love.
It is a possibility.
There is the risk that chasing your heart's desire can lead to heart break, disappointment, frustration, rejection, and cynicism.
There is also the possibility that you can make a living doing what you love. Where you find happiness, success, purpose, and fulfillment that only a few seem to achieve.
It's possible.
If you choose to pursue the path directed by your heart, just remember to protect the things that you love. You'll need the shields and extra armor. It's real easy to come to a place where quitting, settling, and regretting appear to be the best options to get you off the toilsome trail you chose to trod.
There will be lions, tigers, and bears. There will be quicksand, scary forests, and mountains to climb. There will be bandits, robbers, and thieves ready to steal what you have and keep you from what you're after. You have to hold onto what you love and keep walking, no matter where the path turns, because your heart (if you listen to it honestly) will ultimately get you to the destination meant for you.
It may not "look right", but...from what I've been told, you'll know you arrived once you get there.
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“He Kept Going When No One Was Watching — And That Changed Everything”
No one ever noticed the days he almost gave up. There were no messages asking if he was okay. No one wondered why he became quieter. No one asked how much effort it took just to keep going. To the world, he was just another ordinary man. His name was Ayaan. Ayaan’s life didn’t collapse in one dramatic moment. It slowly faded. Missed opportunities. Rejected ideas. Silent disappointments. Every failure was small, but together they became heavy. He had dreams once. Big ones. Dreams that kept him awake at night, imagining a future where his hard work would finally matter. But over time, those dreams began to feel unrealistic—almost embarrassing. People around him seemed to move forward effortlessly. They celebrated promotions, achievements, and milestones. Ayaan watched from the side, smiling politely while feeling invisible. At work, his efforts were ignored. Among friends, his voice faded. At home, expectations weighed heavily on him. Slowly, a dangerous thought settled into his mind: “Maybe I’m not good enough.” That thought followed him everywhere. It followed him on crowded buses. It followed him into sleepless nights. It followed him every time he tried again and failed. One night, after scrolling through endless success stories online, Ayaan closed his phone and stared at the dark ceiling. His chest felt tight, not because of pain—but because of exhaustion. He whispered quietly, “How long do I keep trying?” There was no answer. But that night, Ayaan made a decision—not a loud one, not a confident one. A tired decision. He decided to keep going, even if nothing changed. The next morning felt the same. The same routine. The same doubts. The same fear of wasting his life. But Ayaan showed up anyway. He worked when no one praised him. He studied when no one guided him. He practiced when no one believed in him. Some days, motivation disappeared completely. On those days, discipline took over. He reminded himself: “I don’t need applause. I need progress.” Weeks passed. Nothing dramatic happened. No sudden success. No recognition. No miracle. But something subtle began to shift. Ayaan became calmer under pressure. He learned to sit with discomfort instead of running from it. He stopped comparing his journey to others. The silence that once scared him now became his training ground. Months later, a serious problem appeared at his workplace. It was complicated, risky, and easy to blame on someone else. Most people avoided it. Some pretended it wasn’t their responsibility. Ayaan didn’t announce himself. He didn’t seek attention. He simply started working. Late nights. Mistakes. Corrections. Learning. There were moments he wanted to quit. Moments when fear whispered, “You’re not ready.” But he answered back, “I’ll learn.” Slowly, the problem began to disappear. Not perfectly—but steadily. People noticed, quietly. One afternoon, his manager called him into the office. Ayaan expected criticism. Instead, he heard a question that stunned him: “Where did you learn all this?” Ayaan paused. How could he explain years of silent effort? How could he explain working when no one cared? He simply replied, “I kept going.” That moment didn’t change his life overnight. He didn’t become famous. He didn’t suddenly become successful. But it changed something far more important. His belief in himself. For the first time, Ayaan understood that life doesn’t always reward effort immediately. Sometimes, it watches. It watches who continues without praise. Who improves without recognition. Who grows in silence. Years later, Ayaan looked back at the version of himself who almost quit. The man who felt invisible. The man who thought no one was watching. And he smiled. Because he finally understood the truth: Life was always watching. Not to judge. Not to rush. But to see if he would keep going when it was hardest. The world doesn’t reward those who only work when they’re seen. It rewards those who build strength in silence. And sometimes, the moment that changes everything doesn’t come with applause. It comes quietly. After patience. After effort. After consistency. That is when everything finally begins to change. Final Message Keep going—even when no one is watching. Especially then.
By Inayat khana day ago in Motivation
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