In some circles I frequent, “Do what you love, and the money will follow” is commonly uttered. But is it true? In my lifetime, I’ve gathered some evidence that it works and some evidence that it doesn’t. Indeed, more and more, I wonder whether “the money following” is a useful place to put my attention.
Like so many questions, this deserves a more thorough treatmen
t than I’ll give it here. But let’s examine what the statement promises. It strikes me that it actually could mean one of two things:
- It could promise that as you focus your life’s energy on what you love rather than what you can do to make enough money to live, untold wealth will follow.
- Or maybe what it really promises is that if you focus on your joy, passion, or genius, you will have enough money to live. And the money might not come from the loved work; it might come from somewhere else.
On my meandering path, I have often traded a salaried, well-paid, enjoyable job pursuing public policies that I agree with for a self-directed focus on some other passion: spiritual coaching, speaking, and teaching (FYI: currently, it’s all that plus writing a book). In the past, these pivots to what I am drawn to do have not been anywhere near as lucrative as the public policy work. It remains to be seen whether that will remain true.
Many artists, writers, and entrepreneurs have focused intently on their passion, defied expectations, and got conventionally rich off their work. But for every one of those people, we’re all aware of multiple wonderful beings who didn’t “make it” and either gave up their passion, switched from doing what they love to doing what they like, are living off of family, or are barely getting by.
Let’s examine our collective societal judgments about such efforts (surely are part of why we don’t guarantee a basic income, housing, and healthcare in this rich “democracy,” which could go a long way toward allowing creatives to survive). Aren’t we, on some level, all schooled in America that the most important value is “self-support”? That somehow it is shameful to rely upon our family, the government, or maybe even grants instead of the money generated by a “job”?
And yet, what is so wrong with not having one’s living generated from a “job?” Was that the focus of indigenous societies? Do the rest of creation draw a paycheck for their survival? I’m looking at you, lions, tigers, and bears (oh my). How the heck do you pay your rent? How big is your 401(K)? You are doing what you love, and you are such losers.
Biologists tell me that the healthy cells in our body only retain enough energy to get through one second; the next bit of energy comes in the next second, and they do not store anything to survive.
More and more, I return to this affirmation: I am fully employed by the Universe. The Universe puts food on my table, clothes on my back, a roof over my head, electricity in my car’s battery, and creativity, love, and joy in my heart. Neither the government, my family, my “job,” nor my investments are my source. The Universe is my source, and I’m safe. And so it is.
(Of course, that’s easy for me to say because we have a lot in the bank. I love you all, no matter what your experience is)
