On Pursuing Passion
On Pursuing Passion
We’re often encouraged to follow our passion. But is that always sound advice?
What I read: “The Fallacy of Passion” by Lawrence Yeo.
Many years ago, I was a bit obsessed with self-improvement and motivational content. Most of the content I consumed was in book format because social media and self-help influencers weren’t a thing back then. Still, even during those past years, the “follow your passion” advice was ubiquitous.
The truth is that advice didn’t serve me well much of the time.
Personally, I’ve always had a difficult time defining what passion is for me. I see, hear, or think about something and ask myself if that stirs passion in me. The answer I receive is usually nebulous at best.
The internal yardsticks by which I’ve ended up measuring my level of interest in something and whether that rises to what some might call passion or not are four questions.
“Does this spark my curiosity?”
“Is this something I can do that might benefit others?”
“When I engage with this interest or activity, do I feel joy?’
“Considering where my life is right now, is this practical?”
Asking myself those four questions as I encounter forks in the road of life have served me incredibly well. I don’t ask if I’m passionate about something because the answer I get back is “Maybe?” But when I ask those four questions, the answers I get back tend to guide me forward in ways that have proven to almost always be the correct path, or at least a path that’s led to another more fruitful path.
When I read Lawrence Yeo’s post, its message resonated immediately. It directly resonated with my question number two, but when I do things that feed into those answers, questions numbers two and three are engaged by default.
But here’s the thing. Much of what makes a passion worthwhile is that friction is embedded into its very essence. Knowing that it’s not just about yourself is what actually makes it meaningful. By thinking about how the byproducts of your curiosity may be contextualized within the minds of others, you form a web of empathy that makes you feel understood. And it’s through that shared feeling of comprehension that your passion is of value to others.
As for question number four, sometimes that’s where life smacks you in the face and tells you that if one’s to live in this flawed world of ours, some sacrifices must be made. Many of my jobs and career paths over the years were in fields or activities that didn’t spark anything approaching passion, but rather were practical considerations because I had to pay the bills, invest in my future, or do it because it was a logical next step toward something greater that would eventually feed into questions one, two, and three.
I never suggest for others to take on my or anyone else’s life tips, tricks, or hacks verbatim. I think we’re all too unique and different for any one-size-fits-all approach to life. But perhaps my questions will prompt you to create your own because asking ourselves questions and acting on the answers is how we grow and thrive.
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