It’s Not All About the Money. Four Reasons to Do What You Love

If it’s one thing we can all agree, it’s that money is essential. Sure, we’ve all heard the adage that money does not buy happiness; but let’s be honest – money does pay the bills. Money ensures fewer financial worries, gives us independence, freedom, and control over our life, provides health care, education, and more, and takes away the struggle of keeping our head above the water. But does money mean so much to you that you would work at a job that you hate, simply because the money was right? Enjoying your career should be a priority over a flashy title or high salary. Here are four reasons to do what you love – even if you don’t earn as much as you would like to in the process.

1. Doing what you love will make you more fulfilled

A healthy work-life balance is a priority in the workplace. With the lines between work life and personal life blurring, a job is as much about personal growth and fulfilment as it is about a salary. Your job should be capable of making you feel good about yourself and give you an emotional high both in and out of the office.

A 2010 study revealed that happiness increased as one’s income rose to $75,000. But after that, a higher income does not have any bearing on one’s satisfaction. A greater income does not guarantee increased happiness.

2. Doing what you are interested in will increase your productivity

When you have a job that you are interested in, you will succeed. You will feel completer and more satisfied. That leads to greater motivation to do well – which in turn could lead to more success.

Being happy at work is a productivity booster and performance enhancer. Loving what you do creates a passion for learning about and understanding your job thoroughly and for giving it your very best. Work does not feel like work anymore. Instead, you find yourself waking up rearing to begin your day at the workplace. With a drive to excel, you put in every ounce of passion, you can muster into your work. You are able to work efficiently which in turn leads to more downtime and better work-life balance.

3. Doing what you like can help you succeed

Steve Jobs said: The only way to do great work is to love what you do.

When you choose a career that you love, you challenge yourself every step of the way to do better every day at the workplace. You step out of your comfort zone, take more risks, and open yourself to a whole new world of opportunity. Your thoughts are challenged through further learning and conversations with others. You make yourself available to new possibilities; that in turn sparks new ideas that could lead to impossibly new heights.

All of this happens without anyone needing to keep tabs on you or motivating you to reach your full potential. You push against yourself because you love what you do. You want to compete with yourself and achieve new heights of success.

4. Doing what you are good at will inspire others

A vast section of the working population goes out to work only to pay the bills, clear student loans, or cover the rent.

Loving your job can have a domino effect at the workplace. When you love what you do, you do it well; and when you are good at what you do, you will inspire others to follow in your footsteps. Seeing you change and succeed can inspire others to follow in your footsteps. You will inspire those who are afraid to do what they love. When they realise that you work simply for the joy of working and to do what you love doing – even if it does not pay much – but that you are happy, they will be inspired to follow in your footsteps.

There is no doubt that money is essential, but don’t sacrifice your happiness to make more money merely. People who do what they love to do are more optimistic, learn faster, make fewer mistakes, are more motivated, and make better decisions. For true happiness and satisfaction, love what you do, do what you are good at, and do what you are interested in today.