Is Finding Your Passion Overrated?

Yes, passion is overrated. These are not the kind of words you would
expect to hear from a career advisor. I guess I am just weary of seeing people immobilized by the undue pressure of identifying their passion and then trying to find a career that will support and sustain it. I also see people making unrealistic educational choices like pursuing multiple degrees while accumulating a mountain of debt in the name of passion. The motivation behind these decisions looks more like fear and avoidance rather than the actual pursuit of happiness. It is my belief that passion has more to do with who you are rather than what you do.  

One of the problems with focusing on the idea that passion is what you do is that passion is a moving target. Think about what you were passionate about a few years ago, does it look exactly the same? Probably not. It is because life unfolds and changes, and so do we. Many students feel paralyzed by the thought of choosing a career that will be fulfilling for a lifetime. I can’t even pick out a sofa
that I will like for a lifetime! The best thing you can do is to look at your current interests, personality, values, skills and opportunities and then build from there.

When we equate passion with career we also put unrealistic expectations on what a job should do for us. Life is more than a career. Yes, a career is an important part and it should bring a sense of accomplishment, but there is more to life than what you do during your working hours. I know many professionals who would confess that they like their careers, but their jobs are merely the vehicle that allows them to pursue what they really value. In other words, their job is not
their passion, but it allows them to live out their passion.

I agree with Careerealism.com, “Stop approaching passion as if it were something you can 'find,' like the perfect lifestyle accessory, or something you 'do,' like
saving the world. Start thinking of passion as a way of being, a quality you can and must cultivate.” 

Once again, passion has more to do with who you are rather than what you do. Start asking yourself, “What kind of person do I want to be?” Regardless of your job, you can be the person you want to be. Want to be pleasant, hardworking, responsible, patient, kind, generous? Then don’t let the fact that your job is not your passion get in the way. The more you focus on passion as a way of being, the more likely you will be seen as a person who lives with passion, which often leads to more career opportunities.