I'm so excited to bring back Stories – a series created to share people's passions and the stories behind them with all of you. It's an honor to have Liv from Liv + Dave = here with me today. Her passion for empowering people through enhancing beauty is truly an inspiration. Thank you for sharing more about your passion here, Liv!
My passion is creating. I am a visual person, truly inspired by life and all its beauty. This is reflected in my career, which has developed from fashion design to makeup artistry. I love working as a make up artist for weddings. My current work in bridal makeup and wedding magazine editing has caused me to fall in love with the stories behind romance. The wonderful thing about working with brides is teaching such a vast array of people how to enhance beauty and in doing so, empower them. However, something I truly love about my job is that I'm able to balance my work in weddings with editorial work – which I find very challenging and fulfilling for me as it gives me the opportunity to express my creativity and visions.
What is the story behind finding your passion? Where has it led you?
After thinking about changing careers for a little while, I decided to take the leap to become a professional makeup artist. My tight budget left little room for me to go back to school, so I participated in a talent competition for a scholarship. And won!
Finding my passion changed everything. I'm committed to doing what I love and I feel that I'm better for it. Because it makes me happy, I'm a better colleague, partner, daughter, and friend. And that's what is most important. Although my passion has taken me around the world – from Berlin to New York to London and finally my home in Sydney – where it's really led me to to authentic happiness.
What are some of the challenges you're encountering in pursuing your passion?
There's an initial excitement to following your dreams that is really energizing and inspiring. However, I realized that when that fades away is when putting in the hours and staying committed really counts. Creating a successful career, even with all the passion and talent in the world, takes a lot of time and work. In my field, that means constantly learning, training, adapting, and networking – whether its growing my portfolio, continuously improving my images, signing with a well-known agency, or getting jobs that challenge me. My career is a journey, and while I find joy in every step, it can be easy for me to lost focus by committing to too many things and becoming impatient. What I find most important is learning how to stay focused, while staying flexible.
How is you life different since you've started pursuing what you're passionate about?
It's simple – I look forward to waking up in the morning. I find myself facing the day with far less anxiety and doubt because I'm confident in what I'm doing. I'm excited to pursue my dreams and motivated to conquer challenges.
What is your legacy going to be as a result of pursuing your passion?
I want to enhance the world's beauty – and empower people through doing so. I will impact my field by becoming one of the very best at what I do. It's also important to me that I inspire others to pursue their passions by pursuing my own.
What's the greatest lesson you've learned while pursuing your passion?
That I can create the life I want. It's possible for me to live my dreams, and the only things that will ever hold me back is my own self-doubt and fear.
How would you encourage others to find and pursue their passion?
Get in touch with yourself. It's so easy to get lost in how loud the world is today, so take some time to reflect on what makes you happy – on what you love doing. I think that it's also important to surround yourself with people that encourage you. And most importantly of all, be brave – don't be afraid to chase your dreams. In fact, make it your first priority.
Want to learn more about Liv and her passion? Check out her website, personal blog, Instagram, or Facebook page. What's your passion? Do you know someone changing the world through pursuing their passion? I'd love to hear your story and maybe even share it here! Please contact me at seitblog[at]gmail[dot]com.j
