Chasing Dreams or Paying Bills? My Thoughts on Passion vs Practicality

Every day, I feel like I’m standing in the middle of a crossroad.

One path leads to stability—a job that pays the bills, keeps food on the table, and gives me a sense of security. The other? It’s where my passion lives. The kind that sets my soul on fire, the kind that makes me feel alive, but… doesn’t always come with a steady paycheck.

And honestly? It’s exhausting having to choose.

Minsan, I wake up feeling hopeful—thinking “Maybe today I can work on my dream.” But then reality knocks: bills to pay, deadlines to meet, responsibilities piling up. Parang gusto mong habulin ‘yung passion mo, pero pinapaalala ng buhay na hindi lang puso ang kailangang busugin, kundi pati tiyan.

Passion has always been my spark.
Whether it’s creating content, writing, telling stories, or just sharing pieces of my soul online—it gives me meaning. Hindi siya glamorous. There are days I question myself. “Is anyone even listening?” But then someone messages, “Ate, I needed that post today.” And suddenly, the fire burns again.

But passion alone can’t pay rent.

The practical side of me says, “Maghanap ka na ng stable job.”
Yung may regular income, benefits, fixed schedule. And don’t get me wrong—I’ve tried. I’ve had jobs. Some I liked, others I just tolerated. And while I’m grateful, there’s always that tiny ache inside me, whispering “This isn’t what you were made for.”

Bakit ganun? Why does it feel like I have to give up one for the other?

Sometimes I wonder—are we supposed to suffer for our dreams? Or are we just romanticizing struggle? Kasi ‘di ba, we grew up hearing “follow your dreams” but they never told us how hard it would be. Especially when you don’t come from privilege. When you're the breadwinner. When you can't afford to "just see where life takes you."

And yet… I still dream.

I dream of waking up one day and not having to choose.
Na I can pay my bills and do what I love.
Na my passion becomes my profession.
Na hindi ko na kailangang mamili sa dalawa, kasi pinili ko ang sarili ko.

Until then, I’m learning to balance.

I still take jobs that give me stability, pero I always make time for my creative soul. Kahit one hour a day, kahit one blog post a week. Because I refuse to let that part of me die.

To anyone reading this who feels the same—I see you. I feel you.
And I just want to say: It’s okay to survive while you’re building your dream.
You’re not a failure. You’re just human.

Someday, maybe we won’t have to choose anymore.
But for now, we’ll keep walking. One step for the bills, one step for the dream.

And that, I think, is still something beautiful.