Every time we struggle to cope with our current job or feel unsatisfied with the work we do, our minds often drift to the concept of passion. We start asking ourselves questions like: “Do I love this job? Am I pursuing my passion? Is this the reason I am unhappy in my current work?” I reflected on these same questions while pursuing my engineering degree and working at a job.
This isn’t unique to me; many people use questions about passion when considering their careers. Some might argue that passion is overrated in today’s world. We are living in an era dominated by A.I., where the focus should be on pursuing opportunities that offer financial stability and freedom as quickly as possible.
I’ve recently seen ads on social media promoting A.I. tools, stating, “If you don’t leverage A.I. to reduce your workload, you’re living in the past.” Times have certainly changed, and many human tasks have been replaced by A.I. This trend is likely to grow in the future.
However, I’ve observed people following their passions and earning enough money from trending opportunities, yet they still feel unhappy and unsatisfied. How is that possible? To explore this, I came across an article by one of my favorite authors. He mentioned another author who compared my dream city, Paris, to a very undesirable place (which I won’t name).
I’ve always envisioned Paris as a dream destination, with the Eiffel Tower as a symbol of love. I believe that I would be truly happy living in Paris. But when I read that article, I was shocked by the comparison of my dream city to something so negative. At first, I struggled to accept his perspective, but it led me to reflect on my own life and the cities I have experienced throughout different phases.
My native place, which I viewed as a comfortable and happy setting during my childhood and student years, felt different when I became unemployed. I couldn’t see it in the same light, and it became frightening to me.
Similarly, the city where I spent my entire college life transformed significantly in my eyes. After graduating, it no longer felt like the happy and exciting place it once was. Even during my internship there, the city that had once inspired me became a source of anxiety.
I realized that everyone perceives places differently; the location I love might be disliked by someone else, and vice versa. I once thought perceptions were tied to a place or financial circumstances, but I almost overlooked the most crucial driving force of life: happiness.
After reading Brian Tracy’s books, I came to the conclusion that how much control you feel over your life influences everything around you more than any other circumstance.
Your happiness largely depends on how in control you feel of your own life. This realization answered the questions I had been asking myself. Regardless of the job you do, the cities you move to, or the jobs you switch, the extent to which you feel in control of your life ultimately determines your happiness. Whether you pursue your passion, live your dreams, or work toward them, it all makes sense once you take control of your life.