Even if you love what you’re doing, there will be times when you absolutely hate following that passion. It’s going to be tough, it’s going to be monotonous, it’s going to feel utterly unrewarding. And as awful as it is to hear it, that’s something you must keep in mind when you’re starting (or slogging along with) any creative project.

Mark Manson sums it up pretty perfectly in his article, “7 Strange Questions That Help You Find Your Life Purpose”: Everything sucks, some of the time.

The key, he explains, is figuring out what struggle you’re willing to tolerate. Take a good look at your goals, and think about what those ambitions look like on their worst, Can-I-have-a-do-over? days. If you’re a teacher, maybe it’s dealing with unresponsive kids who have zero interest in the lesson plans you painstakingly gave up your weekend to do. If you’re an artist, maybe it’s relentlessly promoting yourself and your work, as awkward as that can be, so the world knows about your art.

Whatever it is, map out what sacrifices you need to make, and get honest with yourself: What are you willing to give up to achieve this? And what will you refuse to settle for? Knowing where you stand can make all the difference between giving up and slogging through the rough patches.

And at the very least, Manson’s advice proves that you’re not alone. Just because you’re going through a rough period doesn’t mean this isn’t your true calling or that you’ve chosen the wrong dream. It just means you’re living. You’re putting yourself out there. You’re making it happen.

If you’re trying to figure out what you’d like to do, read Manson’s article. It get you to critically think about what’s important in your life — and in a non-navel-gazing way.

 

This post is part of Life Between Weekends’ Tuesday Takeaway series. Every Tuesday, we’ll share the most compelling insight we’ve gleaned from a book, movie, tour, documentary or article to inspire you during the workday. 

Photo: S. Charles/Unsplash