I've played meaningless, worthless, and stupid gigs.
So have you. It's okay. We're not alone. There are lots of us out there, people working meaningless, worthless, and stupid gigs.
I've found it frustrating to see my talents used and abused in the ways they have in the past. I'm sure you have, too. I could continue to frustrate over those gigs, but I won't.
I won't frustrate because those gigs are jobs. I need a job. Those jobs provide the support I need to make my career or support my vocation. Those jobs represent the freedom that I seek. They are a means to an end. Seeing it that way, I find jobs to be deeply meaningful, worth it, and maybe stupid, but they give me what I need.
I'm writing a small series. The series is about jobs and careers. The series is for musicians that often mistake their jobs for their careers or even their vocations. Also, it's about the frustrations that follow.
The deep frustration, the "I could be doing something else right now," the "I'm just playing to the stools," you know what I mean? These frustrations come from within ourselves. We allow these thoughts to consume our minds. Why?
Because what is a job, we believe to be our career. Stop thinking that way. A job creates the freedom to make your career and live your vocation.
Don't stress over the things that don't matter.
A gig is sometimes nothing more or less than precisely what it is,
A job.
Inspiration for this article came from a video by Elizabeth Gilbert. The video is part of a series produced by Plus Acumen. You can easily access the course here: http://bit.ly/Livewithoutfear.