December 1, 2011

You Don't Know What You Want, and That's Okay

In our modern world, we have freed up significant amounts of time to work on tasks outside of finding something to eat. We have filled that vacuum with various activities that fall into two categories: work and hobbies. Hobbies are by definition something we do for pleasure in our free time, outside of work. Work, on the other hand, is something we do in order to earn currency to trade for the things we need to survive. Some people find their jobs enjoyable, but I'm guessing most do not. Yet they do it anyway. WHY?!

It's easy to lean back in my chair and tell the internet to find a job it enjoys. Obviously that's much more difficult to implement. First, there are the people with families to support. I'm not even going to pretend to understand the complexity of survival and pleasure in that situation, and I admit freely anything that follows probably does not apply to them. Second, even in a good job market, the job someone thinks they will enjoy may not be available. That brings us to the third difficulty, and the one I think is most often overlooked, but causes the most problems: we don't know what job would make us happy.

Maybe not lasting happiness, but it would be fun to pull a donut in
This point extends well beyond jobs (kids toys and dating come to mind), but considering how much time we spend working it seems the most important thing to enjoy. I think it'd be great to be able to write all day and get paid for it. Would I really enjoy it, though?

What happens when a hobby becomes a job? What happens when our motivation moves from pleasure to survival? Certainly some jobs suck so much anything is an improvement, but if given the opportunity to write your perfect job description, can you honestly guarantee you would love everything about it?

The sooner we stop worrying about what we're missing that will make us happy, and just start taking pleasure in those things already around us, the sooner we'll all  be happier. Sure, it's enjoyable to work towards a goal, but it's equally important to realize that perhaps the goal itself is not where the pleasure lies.

13 comments:

  1. So true, it's fine to chase your dreams, but always important to enjoy the things you already have.

    ReplyDelete
  2. i never have wanted my hobbies to become my job, thats why i like em because i its not my responsability to do them but my choice and because i simply like to do them instead of being forced to in exchange of economical security

    ReplyDelete
  3. I agree totally with this, I enjoy computers, but when I went to college to learn more about them on a computing course, I didn't really enjoy that. I might like computers, and maybe learn more about them, but I want to do it for fun. I also enjoy writing, and while I put something out on my blog every day, the writing I was doing for fun off my blog has suffered.

    ReplyDelete
  4. So true so true *applause*. I guess it's like that quote (where was it from again?) "Don't just do what you're passionate about, bring you passion with you."

    Oh and in response to your comment. heh, you got me there. It's true that there aren't any specific travel-to-the-past ideas (except for the kerr ring one but who know's where THAT'LL bring you. Mainly becaus eof the paradoxes. Oh man, I'd have to spend all DAY explaining grandfather theories and closed time loops.

    But its nice to know someone noticed my laziness xD

    ReplyDelete
  5. Very true enjoy the journey not the destination.

    ReplyDelete
  6. You can't really enjoy what you're doing if money is tight and time hard. Methinks.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Some days I hate my job, but I know no matter what I do I'd hate it some days. I just realize it's better than many jobs out there and keep plugging away.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I think if a person ever gets his/ her dream job... eventually they'll get fed up... That's human nature, always wanting more, always wanting something new...
    Right now, I don't have a job so if ever I do get one... I'll just be happy that I do...
    Thanks for the thought...

    Hi_D

    http://cuterandomthings.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  9. I certainly agree, I think it's important to have an end goal.

    ReplyDelete
  10. It may not bring me everlasting happiness, but I'd certainly appreciate tearing up the town in a '53 Vette for an hour or two!

    ReplyDelete
  11. If you can find a job you love, you've got it made! I get paid for writing and can't think of anything else I'd rather do...
    (thanks for the visit...)

    ReplyDelete

Comments are appreciated. I'll assume everyone here is a human, but if the comment isn't relevant, it's not going to appear.