I’m not exactly sure when it started but following your passion has been an anthem of my generation. Initially, it seemed like a rallying cry that resonated deeply. But as I delved deeper into the working world and got to know people better, I've come to believe that "following your passion" might be the worst advice out there.
This perspective gives nurture very little room to play against nature. It insinuates that nature has already chosen a destined career for us, like <insert desirable career>, and that our entire life's purpose revolves around unearthing and realizing that destiny. But where does this leave the majority? Are the rest failures, except for the select few? It diminishes the value of professions such as sanitation engineers, bus drivers, manufacturers, and construction workers, who are the pillars of our society. The underlying assumption seems to be that these individuals settled for less. Not only is this belief erroneous, but it also promotes fickleness. We're encouraged to hop from job to job, always chasing a possibly non-existent passion. I’ve also noted that many use the quest for passion as a veil for lethargy. I admit, I've been there. Frankly, as a person of faith, this the most disheartening thing to realize about myself and others.
However, here's the silver lining...
People have innate penchants and character traits that coalesce into interests are nurtured by their environment and time. When these interests are cultivated, even in the face of challenges, they can evolve into genuine passions. And often, the drive to nurture an interest into a passion is fueled by a personal mission.
So it comes down to how well you know yourself. Have you invested time in understanding your interests? Pursued them? Encountered failures? Absorbed lessons from those setbacks? Contemplated the broader implications of your passion? Recognized your motivators? Defined your personal mission? How often have you revisited and refined that mission?
I’m now in my thirties. Looking back on my twenties, it tumultuous ride to grapple with profound questions, some of which unraveled deep complexities that triggered my bouts with depression. But it was a necessary journey and it forced me to rebuild myself. I emerged having discerned that to equip and empower individuals to fully harness their God-given potential. It’s a bit general but it has proven to be a consistent and powerful undercurrent in the work I thrive in and the work where I impact the most people.
So…
Don’t chase your passion.
Foster your interests. Discern your mission. And from there, let your passion grow.
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
1 Corinthians 12: 4 - 7, NIV