“Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.”

As I’ve grown up in a wealthy community, it’s been easy to say that I am going to follow my passions. All I’ve ever had to do is turn my head to see people who look like they’ve got it all figured out. Money looked easy.

This portrayal of life has lead me to a very important question: “Is it better to risk your security in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire, or take the safe route with promising financial protection?”

The answer has always seemed so simple. Do what you love. However, a sad realization has slapped me awake- doing what you love isn’t so simple.

In my case, I probably share my dream with a million others. I can be a writer in a big city; I can write novels and publish literature- this is the dream. But how will I afford living in New York City among the entire population of talented people who all wish to do the same as I? Is it worth it to live in a bad part of the neighborhood in a huge city just to do what I love in the best possible place to do it?

Take into account the story of Chris McCandless in the novel, Into the Wild. Chris was a man who followed transcendentalism to the core. His only necessities in life were that solely reliant upon nature. Chris rebelled society, burned his money, and made the choice of hitchhiking is way to Alaska to live in the woods with only what nature bestowed upon him. Chris cut off all ties with his family after he graduated from Emory University, and devoted his life to this. Unfortunately weeks later, Chris was found dead in an abandoned school bus on the plains of Alaska.

He had reached Alaska and fulfilled his dream, but died doing it. Some say he died happy. But would Chris have been better off abiding by the standards of society and playing it safe? He could’ve gone to Harvard to get a law degree, and started a family with a steady income and beautiful wife. But instead, Chris ran after the thing that set his soul on fire.

Living in the community I live in today, I’ve always wondered whether or not my parents are happy. They both have corporate jobs that bring in a steady income. After all, this is how we afford to live in the community of Johns Creek.

But if they chose the other path- the path of their passions, what would our lives look like now? It isn’t likely it would still look like this.

I don’t have a cement answer as to what the best choice is, but as I’ve debated over the topic I’ve settled on the fact that whatever it is- you just have to choose. By this I mean that if you decide to run after your passions- you have to sprint. If you slow down or take a break you will never make it in this world, which is why many settle for security.

So decide… do you want to settle or do you want to sprint?