7 Reasons I’ve Sacrificed Money to Pursue a Life I’m Passionate About
There are things more valuable than money…
This isn’t an article about how I quit my job, hustled on my own and became super-successful. This is a piece about how I learned that living for your passion is more important than living for a job you hate.
After spending way too much time in a soul-crushing job, I finally decided to leave it to pursue one of my passions (writing) and try freelancing.
The decision to leave my job wasn’t an easy one and wasn’t done on a whim.
Despite my dislike for the job, it gave me some income and experience.
It kept me busy and I was interacting with lots of different people in a given day.
But the cons outweighed the pros.
The job wasn’t a good fit for my introverted nature. I felt like my strengths as an introvert were overlooked in favour of a more extroverted ideal. I just didn’t feel like I belonged.
I felt dispensable. I could expect my hours to be completely cut or be called on at the very last minute to come into work. Because of my cooperative nature, everyone expected me to do the task no one else wanted to do.
You’re probably starting to see why I left this job…Although it had its many disadvantages, this job taught me how to speak up for myself, how to become more resilient and most importantly, how to not live my life.
Here are the reasons why I’ve sacrificed money to follow my passions.
Alright, maybe that’s an exaggeration but I am much happier and more fulfilled. The situation had been weighing on me for a long time. Whenever I went to work, my mood plummeted.
I felt suffocated. Frustrated. Dejected.
But once I walked away for good, I felt lighter. Happier. More optimistic.
Since leaving that job, I’ve monetized here on Medium and am developing my freelance skills. I may not be seeing the fruits of my labour yet but I know I’m working towards something bigger. These endeavours may not make me as much as I was earning before… but money was never really a motivator in my work anyway.
While I was in that job, there were a lot of things I wanted to do.
Like write on Medium.
For the longest time, I told myself that I’d eventually write on here.
But I never got around to it while I was in that job.
The job itself was taking up more space in my life than I wanted.
I was trying to avoid thinking about my job while I wasn’t working. This meant doing things that numbed the pain instead of addressing it.
I binge-watched Netflix.
I bought myself food and clothes.
I fell asleep when company was over because I was so damn exhausted.
I’ve never had a job leave me so emotionally, physically and mentally drained.
I had no energy or willpower to pursue the things I loved. My job was literally sucking the life from me.
Unlike my other jobs, this job wasn’t as closely related to work I had done before and enjoyed.
At least now I enjoy the work I’m doing. Learning French is hard, writing is hard, interviewing is hard…but I enjoy all of it. And I know that now, I have to be a little pickier when it comes to taking a job.
My situation and emotions were clouding my head. Disappointment, disillusionment and despair were constants in my life. It was a difficult time. I wanted out but all I was hearing were a bunch of no’s, both in my job search and my writing.
When you’re in a toxic situation, I think it has the tendency to seep into other areas of your life. So I was taking all of those feelings of disappointment and disillusionment from the job, and letting self-doubt fester in other areas.
It seemed like everywhere I turned, doors were closing and I was stuck in the same room, hoping that someone would open the door if I kept on knocking.
I tried to be positive and appreciate the good things about my situation. I tried my hardest to stick it out.
But I was bored and needed a challenge. I was frustrated and exasperated. I felt undervalued and unappreciated.
By stepping away, I was able to reflect and envision what I wanted my future to look like. I know what’s most important to me now. It’s not money or promotions or recognition… but purpose, passion and freedom.
Freedom to pursue the life I want.
With a clear head and more time, I have more opportunities for self improvement. I’ve always been a big proponent of personal development because I’ve seen the changes it’s brought about in my life. From hygge to minimalism, I always take away something valuable.
I now have time and space to work on bridging any skills gaps I have. I’m learning about Google Analytics and working toward certification. MailChimp is the next tool that’s on my list of things to learn.
Any skills I add to my repertoire will make me a more well-rounded person, whether in business or life.
Although I’m not getting paid for this work, it’s work I enjoy investing my time and energy in. It’s also work that will have a greater impact on my future. Best of all, I feel challenged and engaged, not bored and stifled like I did in my job.
Leaving my job was a risk — but a calculated risk.
Even though this applies to entrepreneurs and businesses, I think it can apply to life too.
Similar to an entrepreneur, I did my research. I wrote down ways I could make income. I researched them and thought them over. I knew that I wouldn’t be making boatloads of money but I could still make something. And something was better than nothing.
I also set goals and milestones:
These are small goals but when combined, each one adds up to something bigger. They keep me on track and keep me working toward measurable milestones.
I also had to learn how to pivot. I’ve learned that I have to readjust my high expectations and look at multiple sources of income. These things take time, patience and careful planning to build.
I’ve never been one to follow the crowd — and I don’t say this just for the sake of being different.
I’ve always done my own thing and gone my own way. Ever since I was little, I questioned or challenged what everyone else was doing. I’m strong-willed in this way. I need to examine an idea or argument from multiple angles and come to my own conclusions.
That’s why I’m glad that I haven’t followed the path most people my age have taken. This is the path of having a 9–5, getting married, owning a house or having kids.
Having any or all of these things are wonderful milestones and I’m always glad to hear about other people’s important life events.
For the longest time, I wanted all those things too.
But I’ve been unsuccessful in obtaining them and the more I struggle to attain them, the more and more I question whether I really do want them.
I’m at the point in my life right now where I have incredible freedom. I’m starting to think that maybe that kind of freedom isn’t so bad.
I’ve made writing a priority.
I relish in my single independence.
And I’m perfectly content to spend money on things like trips and courses rather than a house or a car.
And the idea of a flexible part-time or contract job seems ideal to me because I can work on projects and hobbies on the side.
Leaving my job has made me question what’s expected and explore the possibility of living life a different way.
I am so blessed to have friends and family that supported my decision to leave a bad job. It’s partly because of them that I was able to fully go through with my decision. Their support increased my confidence and hardened my resolve.
Like many millennials who are struggling to find work in their field or move out, I live at home with my parents, who are supportive and understanding enough to allow me that privilege.
I don’t take my decision lightly. I realize everyday how fortunate I was that I didn’t have to stay in a bad job just to make ends meet. I have an opportunity each and everyday to build myself, my skills set and my brand.
To get better and better. To utilize every opportunity I can so that I can build the kind of life I want. On my own terms.
I’ve realized there’s more to life than a paycheque. Money alone cannot sustain us. But a reason to get up in the morning will.
While a difficult situation made me a stronger person, I couldn’t stay in that situation forever.
Life is too short for me not to live for a passion.
It was only when I stepped away from working for money and took a step toward my passion that I found a treasure chest full of truths.
And that is more valuable than all the money in the world.
7 Reasons I’ve Sacrificed Money to Pursue a Life I’m Passionate About
Research & References of 7 Reasons I’ve Sacrificed Money to Pursue a Life I’m Passionate About|A&C Accounting And Tax Services
Source
0 Comments