“Don’t let life randomly kick you into the adult you don’t want to become.” ~Chris Hadfield, astronaut
As a kid, you put zero thought into doing what you loved.
You simply played, not knowing that your future self wouldn’t play that much at all. Work was serious business.
When I was in kindergarten, our classroom had a block center, a board game shelf, a home center with dolls and a play stove, a drawing center, and a sand table.
We naturally gravitated to the area that was most fun, with no thought about what would look good on our future resumes or college applications.
As far back as I can remember, making up stories, writing them down, and telling them to anyone that would listen were my favorite activities.
Fast forward to high school, then college.
It’s Time to be an Adult
Others told me that writing and art were lovely little hobbies, but I needed to choose a real career, something that would make money. I looked around to see what the other kids would do, trying to spark an idea. If it wasn’t writing, I was clueless.
I never thought of asking, “Why not?” Why couldn’t writing be a career? I just accepted that a job or career had to be something you made a realistic, intellectual choice about, and not one that came from your heart.
And I wasn’t the only one who received messages like this. I heard Oprah say that as a child she was asked what she thought she would do as a career.
She said, “Well, I like talking to people.”
The person responded, “Well, you can’t make money doing that.”
7 Failed Careers Later
Years later, after I was told I couldn’t make a career out of writing, I ended up with a resume that was four pages long and days that were like a yearlong run-on sentence.
I plowed through job after job, staring out the windows and riding the trains I hated to jobs I hated even more. I did a good job at most of them and earned a nice income.
I was a school secretary, lifeguard, pre-school assistant, mortgage processor, office manager, dance teacher, and a few others I can’t remember. I taught sewing classes and even started two businesses thinking that being my own boss would solve my empty feelings.
It didn’t.
A Return to Love
Then I reached a turning point and realized I needed to go back to doing what I loved and make it work somehow.
I had a week off work and found myself writing from morning to night. I felt my headaches lifting and a sense of peacefulness developing. I submitted an essay to a local newspaper. The publication didn’t accept it, but I didn’t care.
I knew it was time to make my passion my day job, and here is what I did.
The next time I was asked what type of work I did, for the first time in my life, I answered, “I’m a writer.”
I began to read everything I could about writers and bloggers who wrote for a living, how they did it, and how they transitioned from other jobs. I wrote daily because I loved it.
No worries about publication or earning money from my passion, just pure unadulterated love. I decided not to lose hope no matter what.
I responded to an online ad for writing work and got the gig. Though I was only writing a few blog posts for $25 each, it felt like a million dollars.
So my kids started wearing their cousins’ hand-me-down clothes. I held my breath as I tightened my belt until I could barely breathe. The fridge had the bare basics, the electricity got shut off once, and the car got towed and it was a pain to get it back. But I managed.
I took a course on writing, joined a business mastermind group, and worked with a mentor on writing during the mornings. I worked evenings and weekends to support myself.
I was writing at last.
Do you recognize your passion? Not hobbies or things you like doing for fun sometimes—the one thing that rises above all. Think back to what you loved to do as a child, what you gravitated toward for no reason other than fun, and you will find it.
Are you ready to say yes? Turn your passion into a career one step at a time with the following tips.
1. Tell one stranger.
Even before you’re working at making your passion your day job or income source, go ahead and tell someone that you’re a _______. (Fill in the blank). At any chance you get, do it again.
2. Obsess over it.
Move your passion from the back burner of your mind to the front. Think about it every chance you get if you’re not already doing so. Read about people who have successfully transitioned into the work you want to be doing.
3. Do it for love.
Whatever your passion, forget about making it into a career until you spend enough time reveling in the absolute joy of doing it. Paint, write, dance, take photos, carve wood, whatever it may be for love and only love.
4. Hope above all.
Decide that you will never give up hope.
5. Shout it out loud.
Put an ad out or tell people that you are willing to do some work in your field of passion for pay or for free.
6. Wear the tightest belt ever.
Pull. Tight, if you must (if funds are an issue). I hate this part, but there’s no getting around this. See where you could take some funds from one budget and put it toward a course or mentor so you are not doing this alone.
One person inspires another. If you are already pulled tight, reach out for a mentor or learn from free resources and YouTube videos.
7. Forget “Easy does it.”
Easy doesn’t do it. Period. You’ll face challenges, and resistance from yourself and others. Do it anyway.
Goodbye Naysayers
Whoever told you that you couldn’t turn your passion into a career had better sit down, because you may be on your way to doing just that. The girl with the pretty voice from the Bronx, the English writer on the train on welfare, the guy with the alcoholic step dad that became President.
And now you.
Stop Looking at the Odds of Failing
The odds against successfully turning your passion into a career and making money from it seem so overwhelming. So stop looking at the odds.
The longing of not doing what you are meant to do catches up to you, and it becomes like a faraway lover that you dream of, that will never return.
The power is in your hands to make it happen day by day, and to blow the naysayers a kiss from the podium. Every moment of the journey is, in fact, an end result in itself.
You will glow from internal approval, even if the money doesn’t come as fast and as much as you would like.
Reclaim the act of doing your passionate work as your career, as if happiness depended upon it.
Because it does.
Photo by Garry Knight
About Esther Litchfield-Fink
Esther Litchfield-Fink is a verbal and written communications expert. You can follow her at estherfink.com. Sign up for a free intro call here, and get on the list for her digital course on How to Heal from Toxic Relationships. She has a master’s degree in organizational psychology and has been featured on tinyBuddha.com three times, as well as many other websites.
Though I run this site, it is not mine. It's ours. It's not about me. It's about us. Your stories and your wisdom are just as meaningful as mine. 
This article resonates powerfully with me, because in my thirties, I have reached the point where I see the return to my most vibrant, animated self–my childhood. And within this return is the re-awakening of a love for writing. As you rightly state, we have to tap into that wellspring of youth to discover who and what we are truly meant to be, and like you, I am convinced it is writing. Thanks for a timely and inspiring post.
Hi Esther – I also decided that I was going to stop doing what everyone else said I *should* be doing so I can focus on my writing and my photography. Amazing things happen when we’re aligned with our passion!
Awesome article Esther! Thank you for sharing! I too have that resume pages long. I have had great careers, but could never see longevity with them! Writing has always been my passion from childhood and I returned to it full force. It’s a JOY to write. As I fall completely into it I get better every day. Your article was truly timely as I was just looking at ways to tighten that financial belt so I could do more of what I love. You were definitely meant to “get into my head” today! Thanks again!
Hi Esther,
Thank you for writing this post and sharing your experiences – it was beautiful, inspiring and well-written. I love how you referenced our childhood selves. We didn’t have to think about doing what we loved, we just did it; that’s so true. I also love how you advise telling people ‘I’m a writer.’ The question, ‘what do you do?’ is a dreaded one for many people and we listlessly rhyme off our ‘day jobs.’ It’s so much more powerful to talk about what we love doing and we don’t have to wait until we’re super successful to do so.
This post was wonderful and thank you again for sharing it.
Truly amazing article, Esther!
Somebody told me that the quest of finding a “striving passion” in life can become a great distraction from living in the moment of now, enjoying life with all the things it has at the moment that we all should be grateful for. But is it true though?
I believe that without passion a person transforms into a raft drifting aimlessly wherever the stream of life may take him… Without a striving passion we go about our lives without daring to wonder if it has something MORE stored in its bottomless pockets for us. Without a striving passion and its wind of change we are simply unable to take risks to catch an opportunity to make our lives better.
Therefore, finding what really drives you is never a distraction, it is a fuel towards new dreams and new beginnings.
The Universe is telling me to take the big step to make my passion my lifestyle. I have seen so many signs. Every door that closes opens me up to another and better opportunity. Thank you for this post. I have been having this feeling with acting and filmmaking. Everyone thinks I should continue being an English teacher but this bores me and does not give me joy. I love film and I love acting. I know in my heart this is what I am suppose to do with my life. So starting today I am going to spend more time doing what I love.
So true, Peggy, I’m glad for you that you are following your own path. The more of us that do that, the more we shine the light for others to do so!
That’s such a great start, to spend more time doing what you love. Enjoy your journey!
LesyaLi, I was one of those drifting rafts for so many years. : ) It’s awesome to do what you love!
Tara thank you for your comment. When that question comes, ‘what do you do?’ it’s usually followed with ‘can you make money as a writer’? I always go for the shock value of ‘of course!’.
Vivadivine, so glad you are loving your writing, and doing it! Go for it. Like you said, the joy in writing is amazing.
Romain you are so welcome. Enjoy your writing!
Congratulations to you Esther on your success. Your article was very inspirational. Thank you very much!
Yes!
Our happiness does depend on living our passions.
So appreciate your insight…thank you for sharing this beautiful inspiration, Esther!
Love + Peace,
Denise
And what if you don’t know what your passion is, yet hate your current job and feel miserable every morning when you need to get up and go to work?
Karen thank you! It’s been a journey and it always will be…
Denise, our passions fuel us! How simple yet how difficult! Take care, Esther
Ahhh good question. What I did was find someone to be a sounding board to talk things out with and to take a pad of paper and write and write until the answers came slowly.
INSPIRING!!!!!! 🙂
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thanks for the response 🙂 what kind of questions did you ask your sounding board and yourself?
I think I need to start from there!
I like to start with these 2 questions:
what did you like to do and play with as a child and teen? and
if you had a 3 day vacation what would you do with it and a bonus question: if you had ten million dollars what would you do with your life? write down these questions and write out what comes to you : ) It takes some time but it’s worth it.
Thanks for this; I have wanted to read or encounter some advice just like this recently, and am grateful to have found it. I shall read this more times thru out the day today.
Inspiring blog Esther! To find our true calling makes life so enjoyable and meaningful. It is hard work to get there but worth every step! You will encourage many with your honesty and experience.
Karen
THANK YOU for this! This article has found me at the exact right moment. My path sounds very similar to yours Esther. Though I’ve only just decided to go for what I love. I am an artist/painter and I’ve had some struggles with belief lately, shall I take a commercial design job ( and feel like I’m selling my soul ) or take a part time job at a cafe (or something) so I’ll have time to pursue my passion?? Your words have helped me believe more in me. Thank you.
Adorable blog Esther. I am obsess phase now. I’m eating, breathing, sleeping and living my dream, getting ready for the big step. Very inspiring reading! Thank you!
This is why with my husband’s support I’m trying my hand at professional seamstress. I loved sewing so much as a child I’d steal fabric and supplies from my mom, get a beating for it, and do it again. My sewing machine was repeatedly taken away and caused me endless heartache for it and I STILL wanted to sew. What is my degree in? Engineering. Because it’s a ‘real’ job… I’m going back and taking my pattern making classes.
Great post! Thankfully because my husband is paying most of the bills right now I’m finally pursuing my first love – photography. I have a bachelors in Interior Design, but it was never really my calling. I really feel like public school sucked the passion out of me and stole time away from pursuing what I loved and truly becoming an expert at it. That’s why I’m homeschooling my kids! I want to expose them to all the amazing things in this world so that they can find their passion, stay true to it, and perfect it to become their career instead of spending hundreds of hours doing pointless busywork in school!
Wow, I think I just needed that right now! After a death in the family years back, following depression and quitting uni I felt like flowing through space without a goal (and furthermore without the will to do a “real productive” thing to quote the grandparents.). I started calligraphy and writing pen pals again, which I did as a child with lots of passion – just because I needed to communicate all that stuff flowing through my head which I couldn’t speak out loud. Making money with calligraphy would be THE dream coming true, but I was doubtful if it really works – I know it does, but there are sooo many expert people, am I really good enough? (Shame on you, internet, for showing me!)
Maybe not today…but in the future with work!. So thank you very much for this article –
I needed it to push the self-doubt further away. 🙂
Great article, Esther. I’ve got the mile long resume, too, and a family that told me to stick with my job (physical therapist) because I was so good at it. Being good at something is no reason to stick with it if it’s not your calling. Luckily, I teased out the things that I liked about being a therapist (teaching, having an audience, helping people, learning new things) and combined them with my passion for writing, business and infinite possibilities and pivoted toward coaching and creating online courses. I feel like I’m home AND I get to keep using the skills I learned as a PT. Every step propels you on to the next good thing. You just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
I used to write and create stories when I was a kid, but my parents discouraged me to pursue my dream of becoming a writer because they thought that I won’t earn from doing that. But it was divine intervention that brought me to what I am now–a Web Content Writer for a US-based digital publishing, as well as an editorial team member for a search marketing news website. And you know what? I always feel happy and blessed. Sure, working (and life as a whole) is stressful, but it’s more rewarding when you do the things you love the most. 😀
Oh, I love love LOVE this. I remember the first time I admitted out loud that I, too, was a writer. I was so nervous! I couldn’t help but question what would qualify me as a writer and would I need to be published, or have accolades/awards/notoriety to be considered a true writer?
I am so glad that you stuck with it and proved the naysayers wrong. Even if that meant belt tightening for a while (yes, I understand this, too). Writers are just like anyone else–but I believe we struggle with having to prove our worth a bit more. I think that’s what makes us such passionate individuals, right? 🙂 Great post, lovely.
Maya, so what job did you take : ) ?
Wow, how amazing to have your husband’s support. My parents owned a fabric store when I was a kid and I used to sew my own clothes for years! Go for it 🙂 !!
Charlotte thank you so much for your comment. Isn’t is a strange thing that anyone in a job can call themselves by their title with no problem but to say “I’m a writer” feels so….hard? Strange? like a fraud? Until it doesn’t!
So glad you found it inspirational and thanks for the RT on Twitter : )
Thank you for your comment and RT Jason! : )
Aki, how inspiring to hear how you write even though you were discouraged. Thank you so much for sharing this. The more people that see that it’s possible the easier it will be for them to choose to do what they love!
Awesome. I would love to see your site with online courses : )
Calligraphy! What an awesome stunning art. I’m so glad you found this post helpful. Doing your art is so healing : )
Thank you so much Karen. It’s hard to be honest about the struggle but then comes the turning point that everyone can have. We all deserve to do what we love.
So glad to hear about your passion for your dream. Wow.
Anastasia, so glad for you that your husband can support your art. Your kids are lucky that your’e inspiring them and exposing them to an amazing world.
My aunt used to work for Minnesota Fabrics when I was a girl. She even staged an intervention with my mom and offered to make me a custom scrap bag and spring for my own sewing kit to teach me to keep track of my sewing things. Mom decided that would be rewarding me for stealing (fabric she hadn’t and wouldn’t be touching for ages as I already knew her nature).
I wonder how much further along I’d be skill wise had she taken my aunt’s suggestion.
As a funny side note, the pieces of fabric I’d snipped small corners off of (still more than enough to do her project as she always bought a bit extra) were in her stash when she passed… unused. I smirk just a little every time I pull some it out for a craft project. I did, after all, get the last laugh. All her sewing things are mine now and my kids will be welcome to use any fabric not in the bought for a specific thing bin.
You have such a unique story Gert. So inspiring how you love to sew and keep at it no matter what. : )
You’ll know I’ve succeeded when you see a Grecian style unicorn on a blue background and say oh… I know her. That’s Gert 😀 I’m working on branding Beautiful Dreams because… well, what more beautiful of a dream than to love what you do and have it not be work?
What great advice!! I too wanted to make writing and art my focus, combined with travel and earning a PhD in English or History. I am working now, at the age of 55, to meet these goals. Yes, I have many years wasted on the way but it’s only too late if you don’t start now. I love your focus on doing it right now without endless planning and procrastination. You did it (bravo to you!) and all of us can too.
We are a longtime homeschooling family as well, Anastasia. It does offer so much opportunity for kids to explore their interests.
I resonate with this so deeply. I have always had a deep love for the performing arts, and I have struggled my whole life to accept this calling, this passion. Let alone being born in a country where full-time performers are frowned upon, as it’s not considered a real or reliable profession. I’ve found myself asking The Universe over and over again why I wasn’t born with a “normal” talent instead, something more socially acceptable like math and science or business. I guess I’m slowly accepting that I came into this world with these unconventional talents for a reason, and whatever my career turns out to be, I will keep taking baby steps towards my dreams and I know that everything will work out in the end.
That is great and I’m really excited to see more and more parents homeschool their kids and give them opportunities simply not available in public school – not to mention the attention and interaction with their own family that they crave 🙂