How to know if you should quit your job to pursue your passion
Individuals must weigh intrinsic and extrinsic rewards, says psychologist Jennifer Newman
People say you should "do what you love." But at what cost, and is that always the case?
We all have different passions that we've pondered as potential professions, but the difficulty is knowing when to take the plunge and actually go for it.
Workplace psychologist Jennifer Newman explains the difference between a calling and a hobby, and whether it's ultimately worth it to pursue your career passion.
"You know if you've experienced a calling, because you can't imagine doing anything else," Newman said.
"It's not, 'Gee, I'm kinda good at this, maybe I should make it my calling.' The calling is experienced outside of choice. You'll feel compelled to do it."
What if it's not something you're good at?
In some cases, individuals can feel drawn toward an area in which they have no experience or talent.
But that doesn't mean they won't succeed, Newman said.
"What the sense of having a calling provides, is the will to exert a tremendous amount of effort, and, with that effort, the will to persevere in the face of obstacles," said Newman.
This determination can actually boost their chance of meeting their goals, Newman said, though success is never guaranteed.
Weighing the costs and benefits
In deciding whether to pursue a calling, individuals are forced to balance what Newman calls intrinsic and extrinsic rewards.
Intrinsic benefits can include a sense of purpose, overall life satisfaction or the belief that you're doing something worth doing. Extrinsic rewards bring income, security and material possessions.
For some, the price of experiencing a strong calling and not following it can be high. These individuals might choose to keep a second career that pays the bills.
The calculation weighs differently for each individual, said Newman.
"All I'd say is, be prepared to work really hard with an uncertain outcome. But, they know that already."
To hear the full interview with Jennifer Newman, listen to the audio labelled: Should you quit your day job?