7 Surprising Benefits of Quitting Your Job to Follow Your Dreams

Since I was 7 years old, my dream has always been the same.

To make a living being myself.

It’s a simple goal — but a tough one to achieve. Finding something you’re passionate about is one thing. Making it profitable, another.

5 years ago, I was lucky enough to find something I truly love – writing. And 5 months ago, I was courageous to pursue it.

After a leap of faith, I’m still waiting to land on the other side. But, my decision has been affirmed by some surprising benefits.

Don’t try to find your passion. Follow it instead.

Everyone has a thing — in fact, most people have many.

In 2018,?one study?found the advice “find your passion” to be counter-productive. Focusing on finding a passion closes you off from developing others.

In psychology, it’s called “fixed interest” — being too blinded by the trees to appreciate the forest.

Passion is developed, just like anything else. Spending your energy looking for something rather than working toward it, is wishful thinking.

Instead, focus your energy on developing habits you like and exploring areas you’re curious about. Just like falling in love, passion strikes when you least expect it.

For over a decade, I worked jobs I didn’t like until I found one I did. And for the past 5 years, I’ve been developing it into a viable business.

When I finally took the leap from side-hustler to full-time writer, I knew 3 things to be true:

• It would be tough
• It was the right call
• And ultimately, I’d have control over my destiny

But I didn’t expect these 7 things to happen.

1. My body stopped hurting

For as long as I can remember, I always had muscular pain. Growing up I’d complain that the universe didn’t want me to exercise — my muscles would seize up and I’d feel stiff, no matter how much recovery work I did.

Despite daily stretching, foam rolling, and regular massages, my back was always tight and full of knots.

But when I stopped working a day job, the pain slowly went away — and my back, loosened.

It turns out that the stress from doing something I detested for so many years had?manifested itself physically.?As my future opened up, so did my body.

2. The present and future switched places

When you’re constantly doing something you don’t enjoy, it’s not only unfulfilling, but emotionally draining.

Spending 8–10 hours every day on someone’s else vision made me feel like life was passing me by. I didn’t like where I was, so I constantly looked to the future.

Mindfulness is a great thing, and bringing your attention to the present is powerful. But for me, the present sucked. As hard as I tried, my brain resisted it.

When I finally started living life on my terms, things slowed down.

Even though I’m making far less money now, I want to be where I am.Inexpensive activities like cooking, being in nature, or reading a book feel like little gifts. The present feels like a present.

3. I started liking myself

I’ve always loved myself, but didn’t like where I was. I felt like there was something missing. And for some reason, I just couldn’t find it.

Day jobs can be fulfilling, and some people find careers they love. But personally, I’ve always known that I needed to work for myself to feel fulfilled.

At any job I’ve ever had, I’ve either had to watch what I say or say things I didn’t mean.

This created a rift between?me?and?myself.?When you love someone, you accept their choices — even if you don’t agree with them.

You can love them without liking them.

Now, I’m proud of myself and feel aligned. I’m working on something I care about and doing it openly, honestly, and authentically.

4. Working hard became easy

Most people want to work for themselves. But, very few people ever do. This is because:

1. It’s scary
2. It’s uncertain
3. And it’s hard to find something that fuels you

Personally, I like working hard — but that doesn’t mean I can work hard at anything. If I don’t care about what I’m doing, my brain will simply shut off.

I learned this the first time I tried working for myself.

In 2017 I quit my job to start my own business — and failed.

I had everything I needed to succeed (including work ethic). But my driving force was money, something I discovered isn’t enough. So, I failed. Every day was a struggle and I eventually burnt out.

Now, I think about work almost 24 hours a day. If I’m not writing, planning, or promoting, I’m thinking about it while I sleep. And the 1.5 days a week I take off, are solely to keep my brain strong.

People aren’t lazy — they’re uninspired.

5. Turns out, I am a morning person

For as long as I can remember, I feared bedtime. As a kid, I would put movies as I fell asleep as a form of comfort.

This fear?turned to anxiety?as an adult. I’d stay up too late, scroll on my phone, and toss and turn all night. Every morning felt like it came too soon and I began to dread the sound of my alarm clock.

But now, I sleep like a baby and often wake up before my alarm clock. Although sleep is a?skill I’m still developing, I feel well-rested, often.

An impossibility to my past self.

Looking back, I was never afraid of sleep.?But rather waking up the next day.

When you dread what’s waiting for you in the morning, every second lying awake is a shield between you and tomorrow.

6. I don’t crave junk food (as much)

Diet and exercise have always been a part of my life.

When I was young, I was chubby, and started learning to eat healthy as a way to lose weight. As I got older, it was to avoid stomach pain.

I’ve had issues with?my gut health for a long time. And as a result, I can’t eat a lot of foods —?particularly the tasty ones. In the past, this was a mental struggle. I’d do well with my diet for a while, then eventually binge.

But since leaving my day job, it’s much easier to eat healthily. I didn’t realize it, but my cravings for junk food were really cravings for comfort —?for a hit of dopamine.

We all need to do things we don’t want to do in life. But 40+ hours of unhappiness a week is too much.?When you feel unfulfilled, you’re much more susceptible to creating bad habits like eating junk food, watching junk shows, and scrolling through junk media.

7. Exercise became fun — not a chore

I’ve always been very dedicated to productivity. But in the past, my efforts were misguided.

I thought forcing myself to do more was a viable option — it’s not.

Exercise has always been particularly tough for me to balance with work. Specifically, finding the time for recovery. After years of ego-lifting and sitting for a living, my body was full of imbalances.

I’m built like a skyscraper, so I need to stretch 2–3 times per day. When you’re wearing a suit, or sitting in a car, you don’t have this luxury.

This led to tight muscles, poor posture, and ultimately injury.

Now that I can stand up and stretch, move, or exercise whenever I want, exercise is fun.?Plus, it’s a creativity booster.

The only advice I will leave with you

Finding your thing is impossible— finding a thing, inevitable.

If you’ve found something that brings you joy, half the battle is won. But, if you’re still searching for something to call your own, all is not lost.

My only advice would be this:

Try everything you’re interested in.

Searching for something is exhausting — exploring things, exciting.

Remember that you can learn to love just about anything, so practice things you like. Give it your best effort and tick it off your “what if” list.

And if you ever feel lost along the way, remember these 3 things:

1. Every time you ‘fail’, you learn
2. It’s never too late to try something new
3. You can try the same things multiple times

As Sherlock Holmes?famously said,

“When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”

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