The Importance of Pursuing Writing Passion
In a study I read from the University of Chicago, in the past decade, the percentage of people who say they are “very happy” has dropped from thirty-six percent to only nineteen percent. Only one-fifth of the population is happy. Not to joke, but that’s quite sad.
You’ve heard it before: happiness doesn’t come from external factors. It comes from within. For writers, it comes from doing what we love, which is writing. It comes from improving our writing through education and observing our growth. It comes from the satisfaction of getting published. It comes from the people we meet and fellow writers. It comes from emails and letters from readers who have been impacted by your work.
Life isn’t always smooth sailing. There are always setbacks. But part of leading a fulfilling life is making time for activities that bring us joy. Life isn’t a coincidence. In most cases, it is a choice. This means consciously incorporating our passions into our lives. It means being patient, understanding that changes won’t happen overnight. For example, if you truly want to write, determine how you will fit it into your schedule, how you will pursue your education, how you will assess your output (by time or word count), how you will connect with the people you need to meet, and how you will find supportive individuals. Understand that adopting any new daily habit, such as writing, will take time to establish (patience). That’s where happiness stems from. From within.
If writing is what makes you happy, then don’t delay it. Don’t wait for circumstances to change around you. As Michael Jackson sang: “Make that change.” Do what you love. By doing so, you’ll discover happiness. You can consider yourself one of the lucky twenty percent.
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