Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life…
I sat with someone this week who is doing brilliant things. They’re definitely doing what they love. Their work lights them up, they share incredible things with the world, and they are finalists in a pretty prestigious award.
But they’re also frustrated and annoyed, they are bogged down by the politics of business, and everything feels challenging and, you guessed it, like hard work.
Whilst I appreciate the intention behind the saying (of course, I agree that it’s important to feel what you do is valuable and valued), this saying makes me cringe for so many reasons.
But here’s the thing … equating doing what you love to not being hard work is quite some way from the reality of the experiences we can have.
Being human generally comes with times of fear and overwhelm. It can be uncomfortable to expand and grow. And challenges can come along in ways you don’t expect.
Even if you’re doing the work you love, there are times when it feels like a struggle, particularly when you’re called to do things that aren’t playing to your strengths, when things feel out of your control, or consume all your energy.
For our psychological wellbeing, we need to normalise that career, business and life aren’t always glittery, and that joy can be found in the mix of experiences; challenge, agency, purpose, and meaning.
I would love to know if you are doing what you love and how you are finding it. Also I wonder about your thoughts about the sentiment of this saying.
May you have a week of being well.
Bel
👇🏼 PS: The last of my Office of Small and Family Business workshops are happening in May. You can register to join me at the links below or head HERE for more information
Every Sunday afternoon, Bel sends the Ignite community a personal note of encouragement – reflection, inspiration, stories, and sharing. It’s our way of helping you prepare for the week ahead. Add your details here to receive Here’s The Thing in your inbox.