Dump Passion!
"The only way to do great work is to love what you do," "Follow your passion." But does following your passion always make you successful? Super chefs like Gordon Ramse would say yes. Christiano Ronaldo would say yes. Marie Curie would say yes. John Lennon would say yes. Taylor Swift would say yes. And some never had the opportunity to say yes. For example Vincent Van Gogh whose arts were celebrated after his death. And Pythagoras. And Galileo.
Of course they all would say yes, they were successful at the end. Ask the same question to the millions of other struggling people in the same profession as them. I bet the answer would be different.
Altogether, many people from academics to entrepreneurs would say actually agree that following one's passion is a dangerous piece of advice. Because often, nearly everything about following your passion can be wrong. Perhaps that's why we are often discouraged to be artists, philosophers and take up courses such as painting, sociology, interior designing especially in a small country like Mauritius.
“Don't you find it odd," she continued, "that when you're a kid, everyone, all the world, encourages you to follow your dreams. But when you're older, somehow they act offended if you even try.” ― Ethan Hawke, The Hottest Stat
Why is that?
#1 Passion is Selfish
A high school graduate who has to opt for the university while being dependent on your parents is a perfect example to depict this point. Even though you bag a scholarship, there are still some costs that have to be borne by parents. And in such circumstances, you cannot risk wasting your parents' money on something that has no security of a well-off pay back later. Hence, just following your passion -which is in itself a self-centered idea- is not the wisest decision.
Imagine seeing someone 'who is passionate about their job'. They may at times come off as a tad self-inflated as though they are legends in their own minds. This is because the first thing that comes to their mind is "I": "I want to do this, I want to represent that."
What we have to remember that even if your passion is about helping people (which in my case was building sustainable communities in Western Africa), if you find yourself craving affirmation then you have fallen into the trap of self-centredness. However, if you have passion, you can redirect that 'I' into a 'we'- by creating a purpose.
Besides, shifting this focus to people around you only benefits you for they are more involved and hence more supportive. Thus, your passion translates into more effective outcomes.
#2 Passion is not a Highway
My Mom and aunts have often observed in their respective places of work how the newer generations are extremely impatient about achievements. The first pay is very often dedicated to the purchase of the brand new smartphone in the market and it's more of a common incident to take a bank loan for the organisation of a wedding or the interior designing of their homes.
And with such an attitude, shortcuts are very much preferred. We all love shorcuts, but passion only takes you so far.
Who doesn't want to drive sport cars, or be a rock star for a living? But you don't automatically get the keys or the audience you want, unless you are Trump or have tons of money.
In short, "cultivate" your passion, don't "follow" it. Like truly, cultivate it. Just because you won't be studying arts doesn't mean that you should drop it altogether. If you have an interest in something, you should devote yourself to master it. Because if greatness came down to just passion, or genius, then it had be reserved only for the select few people I mentioned above. By cultivating interests, anyone can do great things.
#3 Passion ignores Planning
When you are passionate about something, you become very optimistic. Suddenly, everything becomes possible. It's the same rush of adrenaline occurred when in love causing the blindness that lovers talk about.
You can teleport yourself, host refugees, or write the next Harry Potter series. But how do you do that and what do you do after that?
Unless you have a solid real-world plan, you're just building castles in the sky. Just like you can't be a banker without studying finance, you can't embark on your passion unless you plan for it.
#4 Passion makes you Myopic
Myopia is short-sightedness and Hypermetropia long-sightedness. Passion makes us look inwards, hence myopia. We tend to drop everything else to focus too intently on what we like, and often forget to look at resources and opportunities around us.
Instead, we should do new things that we wouldn't normally do, to cultivate a healthy curiosity about the world. It may be as simple as reading a book or intentionally pursuing people who aren't what we think we want. These may surprise us and take us to a whole new level.
But the truth is: “My fault, my failure, is not in the passions I have, but in my lack of control of them.” ― Jack Kerouac
And perhaps that's where we go wrong with these advice and sayings. Follow your passion yes, but plan it. Follow your passion yes, but be smart and calculated about it. Follow your passion yes, but keep the possibilities in foresight. Follow your passion yes, but monetize it.
On this note, accept my salutations!
Until next time,
All the Love and Light,
Pawena Kaniah.
