There is so much we want to do there is so much we need to do, though simple words are they need and want often forces us on different paths; it does not a matter if we like it or not.
We often don’t do what we want to do because of the various hurdles that we have or we make in our lives. But whatever this discussion comes to it is safe to say that it is easy to do what we want to do if we take care of the “need” first. Read on and please share your thoughts too!
Are you doing (or are you in a career) that you truly want to do/be in this life? If not then why don’t we do what we want to do; this article takes a look at the major hurdles we face in our life that stops us from doing so.
You may have learnt to love what you do but there is a big difference in doing what you love. The former is a compromise – but hey nothing bad about it! The latter is a way of life how you define on your terms, a way to live when survival is not an issue. But at times it is not easy to do what you want because there are constraints there are needs which much be taken care of first. Let’s have a look at the reasons on why we don’t do what we would love to do.
Money Money Money – We need money
We should be thankful if we can do what we want on our own terms because for many of us it is not a choice at all.
A single mother of three working two part-time jobs to get her kids through school and pay for the rent; it is most often not a choice for her to do what she loves – because it may not bring in the kind of money she needs to sustain her family’s needs. A person who has a family member with a medical problem or disability has to work hard to get the medical bills paid. The priority is to make that much money to get the bills paid and the family taken care; you might take on a job that you is not exactly to your liking but pays you well.
But say, you had been diligent and had saved for the ‘rainy days’ enough that you can survive well for a certain period of time till when your plan will see the light of the day – you can most certainly do what you want to do because money is not a hurdle anymore. Sure enough that is one major lesson we have learnt from the recent recession, to save well and for long-term equates to sustainability and security.
“You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off you.”
— Maya Angelou
Where to go?
As with any step in life, you must first know where you want to go and for that knowledge is the first stepping stone. You must take time to first understand and know what you want and how to get there. Without a plan there is not much success to count on. Often you have difficulties in finding the right-plan that ‘works’; you are not alone. Almost everyone has gone through this phase, to conquer this hurdle you must first have faith in your plan and then you must seek guidance from mentors or those you know who have “been there” in the field of your interest.
Once you are armed with the knowledge and the knowhow on how to do what you want to do, you have conquered the biggest hurdle to do what you want.
Quotes: Alice in Wonderland
Alice: Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?
The Cat: That depends a good deal on where you want to get to
Alice: I don’t much care where.
The Cat: Then it doesn’t much matter which way you go.
Lack of Drive
We continue doing what we do because that is what we have done so far.
Change is not my cup of tea and what happens if I don’t like it when I switch to another job or career?
This situation is called the ‘foot-rest’ state. And of course the fear of change. To do what you truly like to do needs a strong drive (or call it enthusiasm and persistence) and at times external and internal motivation and risk.
The recent tough economical times have shown us how things can change quickly, millions now are jobless and there are thousands who had been in their present job for more than 20 years and that is the only skill set they have- and now they find themselves in a completely clueless situation – no jobs so how do I find a job?
We were perhaps too comfortable doing what we did… diversification was never in our portfolios because the world seemed to be going along well. The current situation teaches us to be more proactive in dealing with our careers, it is your skill set that is yours to keep rest all can shift or melt away in a matter of minutes. The point is – think about it, if you continue to do what you do without anticipating change you might find yourself in a tough spot later on. Always be ready to move on, to move with the Cheese.
“Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.”
— Lou Holtz
Fear of Failure
Ahh another colossal hurdle- the fear of failure and the word “expectations” that we have from ourselves and that others have from us. What if I fail to be successful at what I truly want to do?
Sure enough a tough hurdle, but as the saying goes: The only real failure in life is the failure to try. It is your choice to give it a try rather than never having it done at all.
And failure plays a large role in your success, think upon this quote:
“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.”
— Colin Powell
There can be a lot of excuses that you can come up with, oh yes, some are genuine for sure but most of these are excuses. What has stopped you from doing what you truly WANT to do?