“Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it.” ~Buddha
Whenever I write or publish a post about following your heart professionally, inevitably someone comments that it’s far easier said than done. I completely understand this instinct. After all, most of us don’t start with a massive nest egg that allows us to explore our passions without concern for financial security.
I also understand when people get frustrated by articles that suggest making a living with your passion is a simple step-by-step process.
It’s not always easy to do what you love for a career, and there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. It can be challenging, frustrating, and sometimes scary to discover your word and put your heart into it–and let’s face it, some people have greater advantages than others.
That being said, we all have the same time in our days, and we all have choices to make.
We can choose to identify what we love, or we can simply do what we have to do to get by.
We can choose to spend our free time complaining about how little of it we have, or we can use our available hours to nurture our interests and gifts.
We can choose to get bogged down by uncertainty and the possibility of failure, or we can focus on the little successes and trust that they’re all adding up.
They do. It may not seem like it in the moment, when you’re not sure if your efforts will pay off. But if you make it a priority to discover and follow your bliss, you just might find that happiness lies in the following, not where it’s leading.
Today if you feel lost about your passions and goals, remember: If your heart is in the right place, your mind will learn and find a way.
Photo by fra-NCIS
About Lori Deschene
Lori Deschene is the founder of Tiny Buddha. She started the site after struggling with depression, bulimia, c-PTSD, and toxic shame so she could recycle her former pain into something useful and inspire others to do the same. You can find her books, including Tiny Buddha’s Gratitude Journal and Tiny Buddha’s Worry Journal, here and learn more about her eCourse, Recreate Your Life Story, if you’re ready to transform your life and become the person you want to be.
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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. 
Whilst this has indeed become a thorny subject with debate focussed on the actual practicality of doing the work that you were born to do, I think that there is only one course that a person can follow in order to be fulfilled: CHASE YOUR PASSION AND NOT YOUR PENSION.
In my corporate life, as Head of Talent for two of Europe’s largest companies, I was responsible for hiring over 50000 people and have been left in no doubt that true success (without stress and disease) and performance can only come from the heart.
I have come across many people who have migrated from jobs that they don’t particularly enjoy, to making a very good living from their passion. They all started by doing a few minutes here and there, then a few hours and mixing with people who shared their passion. Before they knew it opportunities arose…..
My former accountant’s passion was gardening. By helping the neighbours on his new estate design and plant their gardens word spread and he now runs and extermely successful landscape design company. Most of his business comes from the housebuilder that built his house, who having seen his work first hand, have gone inot partnership with him.
One of my managers who was very a very good recruiter but was passionate about wine. I paid for her to do a two year Master of Wine diploma and gave her study leave on the understanding that she stayed with me for 2 years and carried on doing a great job. She is now a succesful executive in the Australian wine industry.
And myself, I’m a psychotherapist and performance psychlogist by training who has a passion for writing, blogging and speaking about Awesome Living. But the lure of the corporate dollar meant that I lost my way for a few years before rediscovering my path and becoming the happiest I’ve ever been making a good living doing what I love.
So if you haven’t started already, please do follow your passion and not your pension.
Buddhism and following one’s passion seems almost oxymoronic to some folks who interpret the term “disattachment” to mean detaching from one’s own needs and passions. I have been trying to understand how much disattachment is too much. To me it feels like if one goes or even nears the extreme interpretation, one can actually hurt oneself . . . I am newbie to Buddhist thought but I am also a Marshall Rosenberg nonviolent communication student, so acknowledgeing basic feelings as messngers of needs is very important to be able to communicate nonviolently to others. I have gotten into discussions with others that deny their basic needs by explaining that they shouldn’t be attached to those needs and use meditation to get through the denial . . . anyhow. Those sort of examples make me wonder about passions (which create within an individual a need to be useful in the world if one is aware) and whether the idea of “following one’s passions” can be reconciled with Buddhist thought. I think it can be but find it hard sometimes to explain this to other Buddhist enthusiasts. Anyone else feel this way? Any resource to share?
I am working for a family member.I use to love my Job and what I did. I have let my brother take all that away from me in the last couple of years. I love reading your daily blog. But I don’t remember what makes me happy anymore and that’s sad.I just can’t find the job I want.I have made so many sacrifices in my life for everyone else. That I have lost my way. And now my wife of almost 10 years has asked me for a divorce.when dose all the hard work and sacrifices pay off. Thanks. Mike
I can see how this can be confusing. I generally apply the ideas that I feel support my sense of balance and well-being, and disregard concepts that seem to complicate those things. For me, having and following passions is one of the cornerstones of bliss. I practice non-attachment is when it comes to the outcomes of my efforts. If I start trying to control what happens tomorrow, suddenly my passions become more stressful than enjoyable.
I think that living a life completely devoid of desires shortchanges the human experience. Desires can be healthy, individually and collectively, as they feed into our intrinsic need for a sense of purpose and progress.
If any other Buddhists want to hop in here and offer some resources, by all means go ahead! I, unfortunately, don’t have any to offer, as this isn’t an area I’ve studied. I practice “Tiny Buddhism”–meaning I apply small pieces of Buddhist philosophy to live a life that’s mostly mindful, peaceful, connected, and happy. I don’t generally try to reconcile my choices with the teachings of Buddhism. I just take the teachings that make sense to me and focus on applying well from moment to moment.
I love that, about following your passion, not your pension. And what an amazing gift you gave to your manager!
Your comment is brimming with inspiration and practical suggestions! I think if we could all make those tiny choices–and then find the courage to take the bigger risks when we’re able–we will eventually find the opportunities that will allow us to follow our bliss. It may mean sacrifices–but I suspect that most people would be willing to make them if they could experience how much happiness there is in earning less but doing what you love.
The question is whether or not your are attached to your passion – are you dependent on the outcome… have you hung your hat upon your success and failure. If you treat everything like an experience and go with the flow at all times, that’s probably moving in the right direction. Another question is whether or not is how you define “passion”. In this sense, I believe the word refers more to something that you are doing because you have an inherent desire to do it, rather than simply to make money to buy things you don’t need to impress people you don’t like with money you don’t have. That’s different to blindly pursuing a goal as a need. Obviously I would like to hear other thoughts on this too!!
Hi Mike,
I’m so sorry to hear about your impending divorce. I can only imagine how difficult these past couple of years have been for you.
Have you ever heard of Amanda Owen’s book The Power of Receiving? She has written for this site, and I reviewed her book earlier this year:
http://dev.tinybuddha.com/blog/review-giveaway-the-power-of-receiving/
I highly suggest you check it out, as I think this may help you sacrifice less and receive more. Amanda does a great job explaining why we need to receive and how we can start to do it.
Much love,
Lori
I love this post! Thank you!
It is my attitude and actions today, not those of tomorrow, that affect love of what I do. When I am doing what is right today, I know tomorrow will be taken care of, one way or another.
I choose to embrace love for my work, and I often find my enthusiasm, passion and commitment to today helps me reach my goals. I also find those around me are inspired to support me in my goals when I fully love what I do.
It’s absolutely possible to love what you do, and loving what you do is something all of us can practice today!
Lori — I appreciate this post, as much for what it says about you as a person and inspirational leader as for the timeless wisdom it shares. Yesterday you responded wisely and caringly to a commenter who seemed pretty disillusioned with a guest post. I’m sure he’s not the only one trying to understand, yet it seems you are introspective enough to let such comments move and change you. Thanks, again, for the wonderful work you do!
It is hard to follow your dreams, but it’s easier than following someone else’s. Great article.
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I love that. So true–and thank you!
Thanks so much, Jeffrey. I get so much joy from the experience of running this site, publishing other people’s posts, and engaging with people in the community. I really appreciate that you took the time to offer me this compliment. It put a big smile on my face. =)
I love everything you wrote! “When I am doing what is right today, I know tomorrow will be taken care of, one way or another.” <~ I think this is such a powerful mantra for happiness and fulfillment. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts!
I’m so glad–and you’re most welcome!
Couldn’t agree more with this article. Small steps can lead to great things and bring happiness
A friend of mine describes that as a “belief buffet”- taking what makes sense to you from various practices. I’m a fan of that, too!
thank you.
Well said. I am a true believer that if you choose a profession that you are passionate about you will find success, and by finding success, monetary rewards will follow. If you are truly passionate about what you do, it’s not a job and that passion will drive success.
I love this article. If I had read it a year ago I would have been one of those people saying I can’t do what I love as it doesn’t pay me enough. Today and every day, I do what I love by giving back to the world every day and blogging about it. I don’t get paid to do, Some days no one even reads my blog but I know in my heart I am at least trying to do what I love and share it with the world to inspire more philanthropy in our world. Just trying and putting your best foot forward brings me more happiness than anything.
I hope to understand more about the quote but from what i can guess is that the world is in your mind. You can only discover your world through meditation. Once you find your “world” meaning your thoughts, feelings, emotions, your reaction to the outside world, etc you will know how to avoid suffering. When you have discover meditation, practice with all your heart to achieve enlightenment.
Yes! I am all about the “belief buffet”!
You’re most welcome!
I think it’s definitely open to interpretation, which is why I love this one!
That’s great that you’re able to give back every day. I tried to click on your name to see your site, but Twitter is being wonky right now and it won’t load. I will look forward to checking out your blog!
This article is reminding me to stay on course, thank you for publishing it! I am following my passions with a supportive and loving husband. He makes me feel like I am learning to ride a bike with training wheels, always there if I need him and behind me all the way, but it’s up to me to decide where I want to go. 🙂
The timing of this course couldn’t be more perfect. I’ve been spending the last 2 years figuring what I’m heading next. Today, I’m finalizing everything to open my own yoga space in a co-working location with a successful dance school and music school. I’m terrified but know it’s the right path for me.
[…] 5/27/11 Tiny Wisdom: On Doing What You Love for Work | Tiny Buddha … I also understand when people get frustrated by articles that suggest making a living with your passion is a simple step-by-step process. It's not always easy to do what you love for a career, and there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach. It can be challenging, Follow her on Twitter @Lori_Deschene. Read the submission guidelines if you'd like to submit a blog post, and don't forget to subscribe to Tiny Buddha to receive posts daily or weekly, straight to your inbox! […]
Great post! I can safely say that wherever you put your heart, everything else will follow. My heart hasn’t been in my job for some time now, but what HAS been in my heart is moving to South America. I’ve been too afraid to quit my job because I “need” the income.
Last Friday I was laid off. On Sunday I met with a woman who runs a nonprofit in Columbia, and if all works out I will be moving there in 2 months!!!
It was not easy to find my Passion, and I’ve looked for it for a long time now. At 32 years old I feel that I can finally sit down with myself and figure it out. What really helped was a book called The Art of Power by Thich Nhat Hanh (Buddhist Monk). I recommend it no matter where you’re at in your life.
Thank you again for this post, it was perfect timing 🙂
Congratulations on your new yoga space! What an exciting development. Your timing with this comment is perfect, as you’ve just reminded me to get to a yoga class!
You’re most welcome! It sounds like you have a wonderfully supportive husband. =)
how do you know if your heart is in the right way?? or how do you put it in the right way?
thank you for your article! I very much enjoyed it.
Wow that’s wonderful! How serendipitous. Congratulations on these
exciting new developments–and thank you for the book recommendation! I
love Thich Nhat Hanh, so I look forward to checking it out!
My best answer is instinct. Find some time to sit in stillness, and listen to the still, silent voice within. When it’s right, you’ll know!
Thank you…I really needed to read that right now…
You are most welcome!