Everybody wants to find their passion; after all, passionate people have a zest for life, they’ve cracked the code and have a direct path to happiness or so it seems, which is why the rest of us are desperate to find it.
Book, blogs, Youtube videos will give you all kinds of advice on how to find this elusive passion as if our minds are playing some sick game of hide and seek with ourselves. The truth is, passion is not a thing, and it is never fully formed. It’s not like a lung or a heart that comes complete with the human package and ready for action. It’s more like the brain, wiring and re-rewiring, developing over time which is why searching or waiting for it to bubble to the surface is a sure fire way to procrastinating and developing an underlying sense of unworthiness.
In this TED talk by, Terri Trespecio puts it perfectly so I will say no more.
I’ve also broken down some points I took away from the video.
1. There is no ONE thing you’re supposed to be doing.
2. Passion is a feeling and feelings change.
3. Taking action on anything will open you up to new opportunities.
4. Waiting for passion to strike is a sure sign you’re a perfectionist and perfectionist never take action.
5. Success fuels passion more than passion fuels success.
6. Falling in love with not knowing can make you available for so many new opportunities.
7. Having a clear passion doesn’t make you more interesting or more talented.
8. Waiting for passion is a form of procrastination.
9. Passion is what’s already in front of you.
10. Passion is where your effort and energy meets someone’s need.
11. You don’t follow passion, your passion follows you.
Playing on the words of Victor Frankl, “passion is not something we pursue it must ensue.” Please don’t waste your time waiting for passion to strike, just start doing and remember, “You don’t follow your passion, your passion follows you.”
Further listening: The Art of Charm – So Good They Can’t Ignore You with Cal Newport
