Doing work you dislike traps you in avoidance and anxiety that drains your energy. Pursuing what interests you builds high-value skills faster because you're motivated to solve problems. And enjoyment changes how you show up around others, making you more charismatic and connected.
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The debate about whether you should do what you love rages on. But here's three reasons you probably haven't heard that might convince you why you cannot afford not to. By the end of this video, I'm convinced you at least reconsider one. Let's start with the absence of it. When you're doing things you hate or have to do, it often feels like a dark cloud of emotion hangs over you. You find ways to not do things. Avoidance, procrastination, usually mixed in with self doubt, apathy, anxiety. What do you think this cocktail of emotions does to you? When the only thoughts floating in your head are essentially about how negative things are you? You're spending your valuable life energy living in an environment that invites and attracts this dark cloud. Is this the kind of enriching environment you think you can flourish in? 2. When you are interested in what you do. Not necessarily a job. It can be a hobby or a side interest. You learn how to be resourceful, how to find time, how to prioritize, and how to learn quick. These are important and high value life skills. Why? Because you have to. We as humans work much more effectively with context. Powerful reasons to do things. Think of those times you have to sneak to an appointment in the middle of the workday or finish the day early to make it to an event you're excited to go to. You overcome the challenges, you deal with the emotions. You always find a way you get things done. Conversely, when you're constantly doing things you don't care about, the time management and productivity tricks you've learned are often ineffective. But why? Your brain is not stupid. In fact, quite the opposite. It knows exactly how you feel about this. That you don't care. It's done the calculations and concludes the balance of positives versus negatives are just unfavorable. So it unconsciously looks for ways to conserve your energy. By not executing these tricks to save you energy for things that actually matter deep down, you end up forcing it, consuming even more energy in a mental tug of war with your own mind. Remember, you improve skills rapidly that are going to be contextually useful and worth it. And when you're excited about what you do, this is the alignment you need. 3. When you enjoy things you do, the energy about you is different. It's not just you who notices. Everyone around you will notice it too. Not notice how easily negative experiences drain you. Conversely, how energized you feel in positive ones. Don't be mistaken to think people can't see this. They can. It's reflected in our expressions, our language, our bodies, our vibe. You see it when you talk to someone. They see it in you. Ask them if you're curious. Like when you plan a trip to somewhere that excites you. You feel animated, like a child. You find the time to do the prep, to enjoy, to plan activities you look forward to, and even to organize people. When you're not a people person, it's empowering. And when you talk about stories, it makes you smile and laugh and gives you charisma and confidence. It's attractive. It can help you realize you are capable of more than you thought. Introduce more of what you love and interests you. If you don't have it yet, dedicate time to exploring it.
