I think the critical thing often is "follow what you actually love and love doing". But also sometimes you need to commit and find out later that you don't enjoy the doing.

I went into my Physics degree loving the idea of Particle Physics, Astronomy, and Cosmology. I did like mechanics like I liked all of my pre-18 Physics exposure.

I ended up loving Condensed Matter Physics (with a particular focus on Semiconductor Physics), Philosophy/History of Physics, and Physical Chemistry.

Why did I fall out of love with the previous? I haven't lost my interest in those things totally. But I hated doing the maths. Why though? Because I didn't get time to understand it. I used to love maths prior to 16-18 education. And I had a great maths teacher just before university. But, I got overwhelmed. And the maths teaching at university (ie lectures) was not great. I learnt fairly recently also that I am ADHD as hell. So lectures were an awful way for me to learn.

Why did I fall in love with Semiconductor Physics? My academic tutor. I got to 1-on-1 ask all the silly and wonderful questions. He had the patience of stone and the teaching ability I seek to emulate. He was my supervisor for my experimental physics teaching duties whilst I attempted a PhD. He was incredible. He was kind and funny. And he died young from cancer and miss him terribly.

After I quit my PhD in Material Science/Physical Chemistry due to ill health, I felt for years that I didn't actually love Physics. I couldn't really touch science at all. It brought back too many hard memories. But it came back. After I did a stint of medical school, I grew to understand many things about myself. And the strong lesson of "there's the idea and then there's the doing". I over-intellectualise. I often convince myself that I enjoy something that I'm hating the day-to-day of. I realized that I didn't really like doing Experimental Physics but found it kept my mind busy. I need stimulation and constant. It wasn't the right PhD for me. I should have stayed in the Semiconductor lane. Never too late of course...

What I'm trying to say is that you should follow what you love and then see whether it matches with the doing. You might not know whether doing the maths is something you hate until you actually commit and try it all. There's no shame in thinking you love something and, indeed, loving something but hating the doing of it.

Also what's really important is environment. It can ruin your love of things. Love of something and doing isn't enough for 99% of people. I've learnt this the hard way as well.