A common piece of advice for individuals contemplating their future is to follow a passion. While this may start out as a bit of well-meant guidance, actually choosing a career path is a much more complicated process than simply finding a source of passion.
"Compelling careers often have complex origins that reject the simple idea that all you have to do is follow your passion," Cal Newport wrote in his book, "So Good They Can't Ignore You," as quoted by The Globe and Mail.
According to Newport, less than 4 percent of Canadians who participated in a psychological study identified any passions relating to their work or education, which raised a number of questions on the viability of finding passions that can translate to the working environment. Instead of focusing solely on passion when searching for the perfect career path, people should identify what matters to them - whether it be helping others, having freedom in their day-to-day lives or being their own boss.
For those who aren't sure what their passions are or who want to branch out into a new field, there are several ways to go about narrowing down a career path. Newport suggests developing a skill or becoming a craftsman at something and then honing that quality to the point where individuals become talented and therefore valuable. By focusing on building marketable skills and working hard to maintain and improve those characteristics, individuals can make themselves more qualified for jobs that offer the benefits they're looking for.
Newport also writes that workers tend to be happier when they have some level of control over their careers. This can range from owning their own business to having flexible hours to managing their personal work style. The more skills individuals gain the more control they can have over their professional life, which adds to happiness and a sense of fulfillment.
Students looking for an interesting career can consider massage therapy, which allows workers to combine a desire to help others with careers in healthcare or rehabilitation. This field can also be applied in a number of different ways or in a variety of facilities, giving workers the option of helping people within the realm of sports, fitness or medicine. Taking courses at a local Vancouver college can help individuals decide if this career path is one for them.
Those who are interested in embarking on this career path can take healthcare courses through the Registered Massage Therapy program at Vancouver Career College. To find out more information, fill out the form on the right