I’m very confused. I really like dance a lot that I’ve been working in direction of a profession in it since without end, however now I ponder whether it is only a enjoyable passion. I’m undecided I could make it as a dancer, as I really feel I’m not that good and I hold getting accidents. I’ve additionally heard that dance careers are arduous and the working environments will not be good. How do I resolve if I would like this as a profession or simply as a passion?
Eleanor says: Nice query. Not, do I be a dancer, however, how do I resolve whether or not to be a dancer?
The professionals and cons you in all probability know. Inventive fulfilment on the one hand, monetary insecurity on the opposite; feeling ardour about your work versus an extended profession timeline. You’ll be able to put the professionals and cons in two columns and spend an terrible lot of time simply staring on the tally. How are you speculated to weigh “creative fulfilment” towards cash? Harm towards ardour? What sort of standardised unit are this stuff meant to share?
“Do I chase my goals” selections are so arduous, partly as a result of they solely deal in potentialities. You’ll be able to’t resolve to be knowledgeable dancer. You solely can resolve to strive to be knowledgeable dancer. And you’ll resolve how a lot else you’ll sacrifice to enhance your probabilities. However that final, essential distance between attempting and succeeding can solely be bridged by luck.
So it’s not fairly a call about whether or not to be knowledgeable dancer. It’s extra like a big gamble. What are you prepared to wager? This is usually a extra useful method to consider the selection than weighing the professionals and cons.
It’s not simply that you could be get injured or chances are you’ll succeed. It’s additionally about which form of misfortune you’d relatively keep away from. What do you most need to assure you don’t face: harm, or the remorse of not following a ardour? An unstable profession, or a boring one? You see the sample. “What would you like” and “what would you most wish to keep away from” transform barely totally different questions. When deliberation stalls on one, it may be useful to modify to the opposite.
As a result of I believe we dwell in a reasonably strive-y tradition with considerable “go for it” cliches, let me add two notes of warning.
One is, your priorities might nicely change as you age. Regardless that it’s actually arduous to think about being some far-off future self, attempt to discover any methods your determination now might cease you revising your priorities later. For example, say, monetary safety doesn’t matter tremendously now. That’s fantastic however to a point you possibly can’t take it again. Compound curiosity received’t allow you to. A future self who values monetary safety greater than you presently do may need the choice had been totally different. Similar with harm, having a household, the place you reside; we weigh issues otherwise in numerous chapters of life. In the event you’re going to take a big gamble that will complicate a future self getting what they worth, I believe that’s price being cautious and clear eyed about. You’re your greatest protector.
The opposite is that turning the exercise you’re keen on into the way in which you generate profits can alter the exercise. It’s a must to compete, and apply for cash, and get observed by the individuals distributing the cash, and also you internalise their requirements of success. Over time you begin to make inventive decisions for the payments. That needn’t outweigh the eagerness. However for those who make dance your job there will likely be instances the place it looks like nothing however arduous work.
There’s a world wherein dance might be a part of your profession selection with out being a part of your livelihood. In that world, you determine a job with the form of hours and earnings that allow you to bounce for pleasure.
This letter has been edited