When Pursuing Your Passion Turns Toxic: What To Do When the Dream Becomes a Nightmare
Recently I discovered a social media post from a creative entrepreneur announcing the shut down of their small business. The sadness, disappointment, and uncertainty was palpable. A few weeks later, a new post shared reflections on how their work - their passion, their dream - had turned toxic over time.
Most of us know how to recognize a toxic workplace environment as an employee. But what if you work for yourself, and largely by yourself? It can be much harder to recognize. Since it usually happens over time, and we expect to “burn the candle at both ends” in the beginning, it’s harder to discern exactly when the blood, sweat and tears have become permanent inputs rather than temporary discomforts.
Signs your dream might be turning into a nightmare:
Overworking
Little time for friends or family
Loss of identity outside of your work
Health problems
Constant stress or burnout
Little to no time off
Poor sleep habits
Poor diet
When this happens, the first step is to recognize there’s a problem. Next, consider the following options:
Quit. Sometimes it’s the bravest and best thing you can do. Quitting doesn’t mean failure. Consider it feedback! Chances are you’ve learned many lessons, honed valuable skills, and will be able to use your experiences to get a leg up moving forward.
Set boundaries. Sometimes it’s possible to tweak the system. Implement processes that allow you to stop working at a certain time every day and take vacations, for example. Make your health a priority by visiting your doctor for guidance on creating a plan for your optimal diet, exercise, and sleep. If you are struggling with mental health, seek a therapist or visit mentalhealth.gov, and always call 911 if you are experiencing a mental health crisis.
Make your passion a side project. You might find you enjoy it more (or again!) when you release the pressures of performance and monetizing what you love. If you’d still like to take your passion full-time, create a long term plan to get there. This might include working a steady day job to pay the bills and provide benefits while you cultivate your creative business on the side until it’s replacing your salary.
We tend to glamorize entrepreneurs in our culture, while ignoring the harmful habits that many of them experience on their journey. If you find yourself experiencing 3 or more of the signs above, you might be in a situation that requires change. Remember that you don’t need to figure out everything in a day, and you definitely don’t need to do it alone.