I've been writing code for longer than I'd like to admit, but never professionally - if we exclude a couple of miserably paid gigs on freelancing websites. Frankly, I had to choose a career back then. Since I heard programming was lucrative and a golden ticket to living abroad, it looked like a no-brainer. I spent years working on my projects, reading technical books, and doing mathematics. However, I don't think I ever truly fell in love with all that. I mean, it's okay, but I've done more amusing things (which I shouldn't have) that now cloud my reasoning. Anyway, I've given it a shot.
I think I like other things better, like law or languages. For example, I enjoy listening to someone speak, e.g. Greek or Spanish. Unlike programming, I know I'd be good at this. I know I wouldn't make the same mistakes I made when studying software engineering and computer science. But, there are very few options for a language person - you can be a translator/interpreter, a writer, or a teacher - none of which fit my description of a good job. The other issue is that I'm knees deep in software engineering, and there is a "sunk cost fallacy" moment. I don't know; maybe things would change for the better if I had a real job that pays real money. I keep hearing that you need to love what you do professionally; otherwise, you will have a bad time doing it. This isn't very encouraging because, after numerous thorough self-investigations, I can say that programming barely qualifies as an "ok" thing to do.
"Listening to someone speak" is not a job though. Your actual job will be for example translating some mind-numingly boring business or technical documents for 8 hours a day.
> But, there are very few options for a language person - you can be a translator/interpreter, a writer, or a teacher - none of which fit my description of a good job.
There you go. You need to look at the actual opportunities on the job market, see how much you like them, how much they pay and how likely you're to qualify for them.
> I keep hearing that you need to love what you do professionally; otherwise, you will have a bad time doing it.
We found your problem! I think this is mostly bullshit, peddled by unique people like Steve Jobs or Elon Musk [1]. It does not apply to 99% of population. For regular people, job is a source of money, so that you can have a life. Of course you will have "a bad time" doing it - a job is literally trading effort and discomfort for money. The dream that, if you only find your passion, the work will be fun and not taxing or uncomfortable, is just that - a dream that you can escape the human condition.
The most common sense advice is to find a job that you can tolerate (or even somewhat like on a good day) and that pays well. That's what our parents always say (at least the non-US parents) and it's not because they're stupid - I think it's hard-won wisdom that comes with age.
[1] Unique in the way that they are hardcore workaholics and work is almost everything for them. Most regular people are very far from that.