Why aren’t you chasing your dreams and following your passion? For real.
Thought Catalog’s Contributor Christopher Hudspeth gives the most honest and straightforward answer:
There’s something you’d much rather be doing, than whatever you’ll do today. As kids, our future aspirations (which changed frequently) seemed so possible. Is it because we were naïve adolescents? Or were we actually full of the hope and confidence necessary to accomplish our visions, before being drained of that conviction over the years? Our dreams are put through the wringer as we allow laziness, letdowns, and the preconceived notion that we must attend college, obtain a degree and jump into a career squeeze the life out of them, as we succumb to being “realistic.”
So you forget. You disregard your passion, and do whatever pays the bills. Sure there’s that thing you love, but what are the chances of it working out? It’s best to just drop it. But one day something triggers your memory. You watch a low-budget movie that you could’ve acted in or produced. A local singer is gaining exposure, but you’re a better performer than them. A former schoolmate is traveling the globe, and that’s what you always wanted to do. Then, just when you had begun to disregard your fantasies, a nerve is hit and you realize, GASP! You’re not doing what makes you happy!
And so, you continue working for the weekend, questioning what could be. Why aren’t you chasing your dreams? Well, there are plenty of reasons, but here are the main ones.