“Do what you love or love what you do.”
— Grandma Wisdom
Many years ago, a friend gave me this advice from his grandmother, so I call it “Grandma Wisdom.” Prior to this, I had only heard the first part, “Do what you love.” And now I realize why it was incomplete. While sometimes I need to change jobs and even cities, other times I need to change my attitude.
Do what you love (go where you find passion and purpose) or love what you do (find passion and purpose where you are) … the important thing is to LOVE.
As a doctor, you might think that meaning and purpose are easy to find. Yet, there are things that I do not love: the administrative paperwork, the belligerent family member, the time pressure. Some days, it is easier to focus on the positive: I enjoy the puzzle of helping people find the path to wellness, connecting to people, teaching people.
Finding passion and purpose in what I do is sometimes a matter of mental gymnastics. Some random estimates say that if over 20% of you work is “unlovable” to you, then you will burn out. Sometimes, I just have to take a moment and remember what inspires me. Or sometimes, I also find hobbies and other activities to balance out my life. I remember a realtor once told me that their favorite thing about their job was finding the perfect home for a new couple and knowing that they are making a difference in someone’s happiness. That is the inspiration that carries them through the little things that aggravate them about the job. Some days I have to dig deep, sit with other people, vent … and then I’m ok. Other days, life is a dream. Strangely enough, I’m working the same job.
“Do what you love or love what you do.”
— Grandma Wisdom