A Career You Love vs. A Career That Pays Well: Which Is More Important?

How many times have you asked yourself: “What am I meant to do in life?” For me, I’ve asked that questions at least 20 times before my 25th birthday.

Our parents, friends, and the society around us have an opinion about who we should become and what we should do with our lives. If you plan to live a life that someone else has planned for you, please stop reading. The rest of this article is for those who reject the belief that living someone else’s life is better than living our own.

Last week, I wrote a few tips to help you choose the life that brings you joy, authenticity, and fulfillment. This week, I want to go deeper into exploring what happens if the life you choose includes a dream career that doesn’t pay a lot of money (at least in the beginning).

What if your dream career is in something like the arts, music, or education instead of finance, tech, or law? Should you abandon that dream career for a more lucrative one? Should you find ways to pursue your passion outside of work? Or, should you take the risk of making your passion and your career the same thing?

When I was faced with this very choice in my early 20s, I decided to go against my life’s social and financial pressures. I chose to pick a career that aligned with my passion and…