An unworthy career?

[Nani]

I've recently acknowledged that I love art and writing and that it'd be wonderful to have a career that is centered around these things. However, I'm not happy with this realization. For some reason, I feel like I'm cheating. Scientists, lawyers, doctors, and all those prestigious jobs that require years of hard work and experience seem more difficult and "worthy" than some job that involves being childlike and using your imagination to write a story or draw something. It's fun and I love doing it, but it feels like a cop-out.

I know that it's wrong to think and feel this way. I should not feel guilty doing what I love. After all, I'm sure all those doctors and scientists got their jobs because it's what they love doing (I hope), but I still feel like they're doing something much more worthwhile to help humanity than I am. I feel like I have it too easy.

Any thoughts?

[openeyes]

When you succeed in supporting yourself as an artist tell me it wasn't hard work doing so (though if it does prove to be easy, there's nothing wrong with that either). Along the way, see what's wrong with making people feel good/inspired being able to appreciate your creations.

[Remiel]

So because you are good at something and enjoy it a ton it no longer feels like work? And that is bad?

Can't you help out humanity through your writing and through your art? I can think of a number of books that have touched my life with a good example being "The Shack". Can't you write books that stir people's hearts like that author did?

[CroMagna]

Who says doctors and lawyers are necessarily interested in humanity? What if they just want big bucks?

Steve Pavlina is a blogger. Do you think this is less worthy than being a doctor?

It's much harder to etch out a living as an artist than to just be good at science and study. Doctor is considered a fall back for many artists and writers. There are no "starving doctors".

[sheffy4]

I've struggled with the same idea. I majored in English with the goal of becoming an English professor, but I keep delaying this career, partly because of the "unworthy" feeling that you described.
How is lecturing and debating about Mark Twain or Shakespeare going to change the world for the better? Sure I enjoy it a lot, but how am I improving the world around me?
My answer to that is it teaches people how to think, read, write, listen, and communicate ideas to others. All of these things are important for a person's growth. The same thing goes for all creative endeavors like art, music, dance, wood shop... anything really. They help support the other disciplines like science and math by helping people think in many different ways. Wasn't there a study that said kids who played music were better at math?
In addition to supporting the other disciplines, the arts are essential for leisure time, and leisure time is essential for happy living.
Even neurosurgeons and NASA scientists go home at the end of the day and relax in their own way. They read for fun, decorate their home with art that resonates with them, and watch movies and TV shows that entertain them. Imagine a world without music, paintings, theater, movies, books... how depressing! It's influence is so powerful that we forget it's there. We can't see the forest for the trees, as they say.
So if you love to create art, do it, because it is important. A doctor might save your life, but without beauty, is life really worth living?

[NeedMyCoffee]

Do what you love and don't give it a second thought. The thought that someone ranks "higher" than you because of their job is a waste of time. I admire doctors, lawyers and the like for putting in all the hours it takes to be successful, but I also admire an artist who can turn out a beautiful piece of work in a blink of an eye.

[Nani]

Thanks for all your wonderful comments, everyone.

Sheffy, your post, and especially your last sentence, touched me deeply.

I guess I needed some reassuring that these entertainment related activities really are important and have a place in the world. When I think about it, I would probably go crazy without movies, books, comics, etc. They inspire me, give me ideas, and help me relax and enjoy life.

I'm surprised I missed the rather obvious point that artists and writers actually have it harder than doctors and lawyers when it comes to money. In fact, if you are genuinely interested in such a prestigious field, you are lucky! You can do what you love and make lots of money at the same time.

I think that it comes down to me being comfortable saying that a scientist and a writer are both equally important. Is it silly to think that? It doesn't matter if someone else thinks so, what ultimately matters is my answer, and it clearly won't help me to think, "yes, it's silly." From the right perspective, it isn't.

[Chap]

Originally Posted by Nani

I've recently acknowledged that I love art and writing and that it'd be wonderful to have a career that is centered around these things. However, I'm not happy with this realization. For some reason, I feel like I'm cheating. Scientists, lawyers, doctors, and all those prestigious jobs that require years of hard work and experience seem more difficult and "worthy" than some job that involves being childlike and using your imagination to write a story or draw something. It's fun and I love doing it, but it feels like a cop-out.

I know that it's wrong to think and feel this way. I should not feel guilty doing what I love. After all, I'm sure all those doctors and scientists got their jobs because it's what they love doing (I hope), but I still feel like they're doing something much more worthwhile to help humanity than I am. I feel like I have it too easy.

Any thoughts?

One can always exert their-selves towards good under any career. If you become yet another off-the-shelf recycled 'creative', then you are offering nothing new to humanity, and are wasting time (although you could argue that it is still the product of your craft). If however, you apply it to some purpose, and try to improve yourself, then you will find it an extremely rewarding pursuit that will be life-enhancing for yourself and others.

'Science': what normally passes for it, especially in the social spectrum, is usually very unscientific and is in fact a waste of time, effort, and exertion. Then towards the theoretical spectrum, it can be done for the pure sake of learning; yet we do not hear that 'academia' is a waste.

In short, work hard, work well, and improve on your efforts for good (be open to learning what exactly is good).

[Talkofthatown919]

how is what you enjoy doing not a helping humanity? Right now google some of the famous artists and see what an impact they had on humanity with they're art. For example the 16 chapels, Andy Warhol's art. How do you know they don't wish to be an artist?