We have to stop equating passion with success. I hear coach after coach, person after person, telling others that the way to be successful is to just do what you’re most passionate about.
I disagree. A lot.
Of course being passionate about your job sounds great (do something you love and you’ll never work a day in your life, right?) except that’s probably not gonna work if it’s your only reason. It’s not going to work because passions evolve, passions change, and most importantly passions do not always last. Passions best serve hobbies.
Take me for example, I am passionate about baking. I am passionate about traveling, about being outside, about reading, about politics, and a hundred other things. But does that mean I should go start a bakery? No.
No, I should not start a bakery. Not because my food isn’t good, but because it’s just a passion. And the moment you turn a passion into a business-a hobby into a business-some of the passion dies because you get bogged down by the nuances. Instead of being excited about baking someone cookies, I’d be wondering if this particular flavor would sell best, or how much bulk flour costs, or if I’d pass my health inspection. That’s why passion can’t be all you’re relying on.
Now I am not saying that your job or your career can’t be aligned with your passions. You should 100% do something you enjoy. But the idea that the only way you will be wildly successful is if you are incredibly passionate about your job? That’s dangerous. It puts all of your eggs in one basket and sets people up for feelings of failure and depression when “they aren’t really feeling it” or it’s just not working out.
So what should we do instead?
Instead of focusing on passion, let’s focus on PURPOSE. Why are you here? Why were you created? What are you supposed to give back to the world? At it’s very core, what do you want to do with your life?
Some of you might be like “Courtney, I don’t see the difference. My purpose is my passion.” Again, cool. Congratulations. That’s awesome.
But for the majority of people that isn’t the case. And when times get difficult, when you fail, it’s not your passion that keeps you going- it’s the belief in your purpose.
My purpose is to share stories and capture emotions. To make people feel. To make them think. To make them feel seen and connected.
The fact I get to do this through art is phenomenal and mind blowing at times, but that wasn’t some random decision. It’s not just because “Im passionate about art.” I could fulfill my purpose through any number of jobs and careers.
I choose to fulfill my purpose through art, because that is how my brain works and where my talents lie. I just share feelings better with color and line than with words. When I look at the world, my brain automatically starts mixing colors and setting up compositions. This isn’t intentional. I don’t have to force it. And honestly- sometimes it can be annoying. Sometimes I just want to look at the damn flower without my brain calculating how to create the exact color.
(I also believe we’re given talents that align with our purpose, but that’s a conversation for another day.)
Am I passionate about art? Sure. A lot of the times. Maybe even most of the time. But sometimes, the last place I feel like being is in the studio.
And that’s okay. Because as long as my work ultimately allows me to fulfill my purpose- as long as I feel my paintings are still telling stories- then I’ll keep waking up and doing it- even when it’s hard.
So yea. Stop equating success to passion. And while you’re at it, stop equating success to money. Measure the success of your life, your business, what have you, with how much it fulfills (or allows you to fulfill) your purpose.