The Dark Side Of “Do What You Love” – Psychology

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So the series continues, where I take a break from my usual positive approach to look at why the job advice of “Do What You Love” is probably going to crash and burn for you. Sure, I think that’s a good piece of advice, but it’s only a piece and that’s the problem. It’s not the big picture.

So it’s time to stick our faces up to the problems of the idea of “Doing What You Love” for a living, take a deep whiff, and acknowledge how much the situation stinks.

Last time I looked at how the circumstances of your birth and situations outside of your usual control could destroy your dreams from the get go. There was also the added bonus of realizing how a-holes may be biased against you just for how you were born to top it off. Extra frosting for the depression cake as it were.

But let’s get away from situations and look at what is probably wrong with you when it comes to “Do What You Love.” Though there’s the added advantage of admitting you just may be deluding yourself with your dreams, so you can fix that.

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Escapism is Not Freedom

I meet way too many people who confuse escapism with freedom.

This is a deadly confusion for one's career and one's life.

Escapism is when we run away, when we numb the pain, or when we avoid things.  Escapism is not always constructive.  At best it rests, recharges, and inspires us.  At worse it lets us ignore things until the pain goes away.  However, escapism is not actively engaging issues, solving problems, and improving things.

Freedom is when we have the ability – the skill, resources, and opportunity – to make a decision and follow through on what we want.  Freedom is the ability to choose and not have circumstances or others dictate your choice for you.  Freedom is the ability to take and face the consequences of choice.

These two are NOT the same.

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