This article is brought to you as part of the ASCAP Wellness Program.

For many creators, pursuing a career in music can feel like a double-edged sword. On one hand, you’re doing what you love; on the other, the demands of making a living from your art can make the joy of creating feel like a distant memory. 

“Entrepreneurs become entrepreneurs because they have a love for their craft,” says Elizabeth Lotardo, a career expert and author of Leading Yourself. “Yet they’re often quickly disenchanted by the logistics, metrics and unrelenting to-dos that come with entrepreneurship.”

This phenomenon is not uncommon. A January 2022 study in the journal Psychology of Music found that more than 45 percent of surveyed musicians reported experiencing significant occupational stress.

“For an artist, feeling a disconnection between your authentic self and the work you do can lead to burnout, loss of passion and lack of inspiration or motivation,” says Christopher Montiel, MS, an associate therapist at Sage Therapy. 

However, these expert-recommended, actionable strategies can help reignite and maintain your passion for music – even when it’s your job.

Identify and Reconnect With Your Values

Montiel emphasizes the importance of aligning your work with your personal values. “Authenticity is at the center of creative fulfillment,” he says. “Fulfillment requires the capacity to identify our values and to see those values expressed in our actions.

Still, that’s often easier said than done. Montiel recommends the following exercise to better define your values:

By grounding your career in your values, you can create a foundation of authenticity that fosters long-term passion.

Focus on Building Up, Not Tearing Down 

When we think about changes we want to make in our lives, these changes often involve getting rid of a certain habit or thing (think: quitting smoking or leaving a bad job), according to Montiel. But this mindset often doesn’t work, as it’s hard to erase behaviors without a suitable replacement.

“Our goal, then, becomes, not to tear down old, but to build up new,” he says. “What are the things you want to add to your life? Rest? Creativity? Boundaries? Authenticity? How can you slowly, brick-by-brick, add your own values to your work?” 

Be a Receiver, Not Just a Creator

When you’re constantly in production mode, it’s easy to lose sight of what inspired your passion in the first place.

“To hold on to your love of music, you must, at times, be the receiver instead of the doer,” Lotaardo says. “Being on the receiving end of the craft reminds us why it matters so much.”

To regain that spark, she recommends:

Observe the Impact of Your Work

When burnout looms, Lotardo advises focusing on the impact of your work rather than the work itself. 

“Instead of trying to muster up personal enthusiasm, calibrate yourself to the impact of your work,” she says. “When you reignite your sense of purpose, the passion, energy and engagement will follow.”

She recommends the following strategies:

Purpose fuels passion, and recalibrating to your “why” can help sustain your drive.

 

Infuse Passion Into Your Career

Rather than viewing passion and professionalism as mutually exclusive, consider how you can blend the two. 

“Viewing your life as a constant trade-off between what you want to do versus what you have to do is an exhausting way to live,” says Lotardo. “Instead of trying to balance your passion with your career, consider how you can infuse passion into your career.”

To do so, she recommends modifying the periphery of your professional experience to bring you more joy. For instance:

By infusing your daily work with elements of joy, you can create a career that feels fulfilling rather than draining.