Recall this mantra: “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” You have probably heard it a zillion times and seen it plastered on LinkedIn posts or Pinterest boards. While it is an inspiring sentiment, it’s not always true, and it’s definitely not the full picture. This sentiment, though well-intentioned, has quietly become one of the most misleading mantras of modern life.
Somewhere along the way, we have come to believe that every single thing we enjoy must be monetised, turned into a hustle, or packaged as a brand. You casually mention you love painting, and the well-meaning chorus chimes in, “Oh, you should sell your art on Etsy!” You share your passion for baking, and the immediate suggestion is, “Have you thought about opening a home bakery?” While these suggestions often come from a place of genuine encouragement, they can inadvertently turn a relaxing outlet into just another item on your ever-growing to-do list, another potential source of stress.
It is exhausting.
Passion ≠ Sustainability
Passion does not always equal sustainability. Turning something you love into a career is a whole different ball game. It demands more than just enthusiasm; it requires a hefty dose of business acumen, marketing strategies, logistical planning, and the ability to navigate the sometimes choppy waters of criticism and customer demands. Not everyone wants their hobby to come with deadlines or customer demands, and that’s perfectly okay. Engaging in activities purely for enjoyment is a powerful form of self-care and stress relief. It’s healthy to have pursuits that bring you pure joy, not money.
Imagine losing yourself in the vibrant colours of a painting without the pressure of creating a sellable piece. Picture the satisfaction of kneading dough, filling your kitchen with warm, comforting aromas, just for the pleasure of sharing it with loved ones, no invoices attached. This is a different kind of fulfilment, one that nourishes the soul without demanding a return on investment.
Once a pay cheque enters the equation, the dynamic shifts. Creativity, which once flowed freely from the heart, can sometimes take a backseat to profitability. You might find yourself tailoring your creations to market trends rather than to your own artistic inclinations. The joy can slowly be leached away, replaced by deadlines, production quotas, and the constant need to hustle.
Having passions that remain as hobbies can be a sanctuary from the pressures of daily life. It’s a space where you can experiment, learn, and simply be, without the weight of expectation. It’s healthy, even vital, to have activities you engage in solely because they bring you joy, not because they pad your wallet. Not every hour of your life needs to be productive in the capitalist sense. There’s something deeply healthy about having a part of your life that exists purely because it makes you happy. No content plan. No monetisation strategy. No need to scale it or pitch it or make it Instagrammable.
Just joy. Just presence. Just peace.
You don’t owe anyone a business plan for the things you love.
This is not to discourage anyone from turning their passion into a career—many do and thrive, and that is commendable. But it’s important to make that choice mindfully. The choice should stem from a genuine desire and a realistic understanding of what it entails, not from a feeling of social obligation or guilt. Sometimes, keeping your passion sacred and separate is the most profound way to preserve it. It allows it to remain a source of joy, a personal oasis where you can recharge and reconnect with yourself.
It’s perfectly okay to have a job that funds your lifestyle and a passion that fuels your soul. Not every job has to be your life’s calling. Not every calling has to be your job.
You can be an accountant who loves gardening. A doctor who writes fiction. A customer service rep who loves woodwork. You don’t owe the world a profit model for your joy. Having a stable job that supports you is a gift, and using your free time to pour into your passions, on your own terms, is just as valuable.
Give yourself permission to simply enjoy the things you love, without the pressure to monetise them. Your passions don’t always need to be your hustle. Sometimes, they just need to be your happy place. And that, my friend, is more than enough. It’s essential. It’s self-care in its purest form. It’s allowing yourself to be human, to find joy for the sake of joy itself.
It’s reclaiming your leisure time as truly yours, free from the demands of the market. It’s about nurturing your soul, not just your bank account. So, go ahead, embrace your passions for what they are—sources of happiness and fulfilment, no strings (or price tags) attached. You absolutely don’t have to turn every spark of joy into a blazing career, and that’s perfectly, wonderfully okay.
And the next time someone says, “You should really make money from that,” feel free to say, “I could. But I don’t want to.”
Because it’s okay to love something and not make money from it. Let go of the guilt. Let go of the pressure.
Let go of the idea that joy is only valid if it comes with a price tag.
Stay frosty!
