One of the most fortunate things about my life has been that I’ve always known what the passion of my life is. I don’t remember consciously choosing the piano when I was 4 years old, but I remember loving going to a piano institute every day, being that musical kid on the block. For me there wasn’t any moment in my life when I’d doubt that interest. I remember one occasion when I was a high school freshman and my dad said, “In this world it would be much easier for you to make a living as a doctor or a pharmacist than a pianist. You are a smart girl, you will make a good doctor too.” At that moment I remember loud and clearly in my head that there was no other way that I could be anything but a musician. I understand why he said that to me at least once in my youth, knowing the uncertainty of being an artist and making sure that I’d know what I am heading in for. If anyone knows the hardship of the path in the music world, it would be me. However, I didn’t choose it for being easy or difficult. I chose it as I knew that it was the way I could be true to myself.
Passion
People often mentioned that they also wish they knew what they wanted to do in their lives. As much as I am certain about what I love and it has been a focal point of my life, I doubt that anyone knows exactly what they want to do with their entire life. I find that what is more important for us is to be aware and listen to ourselves constantly through our lives and be able to navigate to our most authentic selves with deep listening throughout our lives. Neil Pasricha, the author of The Happiness Equation, talks about a question to ask to find your passion and check in with yourself often, which is a reason to get out of bed in the morning. He calls it the Saturday morning test:
“What do you do on Saturday morning when you have nothing to do?”
Do you like gardening? Do you go to the gym? Do you play the guitar? Do you bake bread? I am sure there will be hundreds of possibilities. When you think about answering this simple question, take your time and answer it out loud. The answers might change day to day, but I find that they might give you various directions in which you can follow opportunities naturally drawn from the answers. This search doesn’t have to yield professional work, simply keep it as a hobby. But if you want to create something new as your work, I am sure that this knowledge will make you happier by living your life with what you love to be what you do.
Dale Carnegie reminds us:
“Are you bored with life? Then throw yourself into some work you believe in with all your heart, live for it, die for it, and you will find happiness that you had thought could never be yours.”
I hope this can help you to enrich your personal and work life. If anything, simply do what you love more. Life is short.
Jeeyoon
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