Growing up, I lovedfashion.
I figured this was justa passionId nurture privately, for fun, and for free.
It felt surreal that something Id assumed was far-fetched as a girl was now an everyday norm.
I loved the challenges of writing and conceptualizing ideas for fashion and lifestyle brands.
It was always exciting to delve into generating a vision for a photoshoot.
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From Dream to Dread
Something changed a couple of years into my work.
I was no longer excited.
Instead, my work felt like a job and one that I wasnt particularly interested in anymore.
The gratification had long worn off, and I began yearning fora career where I could help others.
I knew I had a knack for the artistic experience, but something wasnt being fully satisfied.
I worried it wasnt possible to have a career centered around my passions.
The Head vs.
The Heart: Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation
The battle betweenextrinsic and intrinsic motivationis a peculiar one.
Intrinsic motivationrefers to the motivation to do an activity simply because we love it.
Perhaps it is painting just for fun instead of painting to sell your work.
Maybe it is going for a walk to enjoy the scenery rather than burn calories.
My precious hours spent pouring over fashion magazinesweren’t fun anymore.
Instead, it became tedious research.
This phenomenon is well-documented in psychological research.
Lepper, Greene, and Nisbett conducted one of the earliest experiments on intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.
When the rewarded children were invited to do this activity again, they were uninterested.
Suddenly, the work can feel stale and mundane after money or recognition.
Can We Truly Do What We Love As A Career?
Uninterested in solely my own experience, I reached out to Los Angeles-based photographer and artistMagdalena Wosinska.
She explained that creating with no incentive other than purely expressing how she feels ignites her passion.
This isnt to say that her commercial work is void of enthusiasm.
When it comes to working and getting paid?
Magdalenas experience speaks to how deeply personal the art of doing what you love is.
Bielak first validated how unique ones ability to remain motivated when doing what they love is.
Magdalena Wosinska, photographer and artist
When it comes to working and getting paid?
Also, yes, she explained.
I asked Bielak how folks can sustain their well-being while following what they love.
You also may want to consider exploring this outlet alone as a boundary.
Kim Bielak, AMFT
Boundaries!
When making your own artwork, collaborations are sometimes difficult.
Such boundaries may feel like a tall order to some.
But, lacking these boundaries can deter incredible talent from engaging in purpose-driven roles.
Employee well-being is largely a systemic issue.
We have to name that there is an inherent power dynamic in this situation, Bielak concludes.
I write about mental health and my lived experiences to inspire change in others.
My clinical practice focuses on supporting creatives of color healing from anxiety, depression, and trauma.
What initially felt like a dream became draining because it was all-encompassing.
My work isn’t my identity, no matter how great my passion grows.
It turns out, the best of both worlds does exist.
Sometimes, it just takes a little trial and error.
Psychol.2012;21(4):518-546. doi: 10.1080/1359432X.2011.578390.
Neural differences between intrinsic reasons for doing versus extrinsic reasons for doing: An fMRI study.Neurosci.
