Some philosophers say that finding your passion links directly to happiness, well-being, self-fulfillment, and other enticing benefits.
Here's my pragmatic take on this concept of passion: A hefty portion of my waking hours is devoted to work. It should feel like a hobby to me so that I genuinely relish the extensive time spent on it. I believe passion holds the key. That's why I've delved deeply into this topic and can confidently say that for me, work indeed feels like a hobby.
To achieve this sense of satisfaction at work, that truly hobby-like feeling, I've adopted some straightforward principles that have guided me to where I am today.
Embrace Limitations: I accept my limitations and actively consider that my perspective will always have its constraints.
Embrace Exploration: I strive to discern when it's best to explore new avenues and when it's more beneficial to exploit existing strengths.
Self-understanding: I steer exploration based on what feels right.
Cultivate Openness: I maintain openness and curiosity about various topics. This approach helps me discover what I love and develop a love for what I'm already doing—thus, addressing passion from both ends.
Foster Healthy Desire: I aim to nurture only beneficial desires.
Let's dive into these topics one by one.
Embrace Your Limitations to Work Against Them
Your understanding of yourself or any subject matter is always evolving. Imagine it as a sculpture, with your knowledge acting like a focused beam of light that illuminates only certain aspects. Through continuous learning and exploration, you can cast wider and brighter rays of light, revealing more facets of this figurative sculpture.
When it comes to your passion, there are lessons to uncover that have yet to cross your mind. Imagine it as a sculpture, so intricate and complex, its shape is unfathomable. These hidden lessons are the "unknown unknowns," aspects of knowledge that you aren't even aware you lack.
The challenge lies in seeking out something when you're unsure of its existence or form. Where do you begin in your search for passion, and how do you proceed?
Socrates recognized that the root of wisdom lies in understanding our own ignorance, stating, "I know that I know nothing." Such acknowledgment encourages each one of us to ask questions, seek out new experiences, and ultimately expand our understanding.
Therefore, our journey to find passion should be rooted firmly in the spirit of exploration.
Embracing Exploration to Understand Yourself Better
Unless you're among the lucky few who have known their passion from an early age and have the means to follow it, the only viable strategy to find your passion is through trial and error. Remember, no one else can define your passion for you, and you should be cautious about accepting externally imposed directions—like those from society or parents.
Regarding passion hunting, exploration means trying out as many things as possible. Especially when you're young, engage in multiple internships. Consider joining project-based firms to get an inside look into clients and sense if that's the kind of company you'd want to work in.
Here are some dimensions worth exploring:
Company Size: Large corporate vs. Small (e.g., startup) or mid-size
Domains
Technologies
Daily Work Life and Routines
Type of Work: Predominantly focused work (e.g., software engineering), or roles involving more human interaction, and others
Cultures
While internships or client projects may not provide a deep dive into these dimensions, they offer enough insight to gauge what feels right. In my experience, it wasn't an overwhelming sense of "AH YES THIS IS IT," but rather a subtle "This feels correct" vs. "I don't think I could do this daily, for multiple years."
However, you can make your exploration phase more efficient if you understand yourself well and have an open mindset toward various topics. It's not just about finding what you love but also learning to love what you find.
The Role of Self-Understanding
Given that it's impossible to explore every avenue and consider your time and trials limited, it's essential to reflect and tune into your own experiences to steer your exploration in the right direction.
From childhood, I knew I was captivated by creating things. I could spend countless uninterrupted hours building with LEGO, and later I was the go-to tech guy 😎 in my family, fixing all (simple) computer and network-related issues. Changing things to the better made me feel good. Later, I was also interested in international politics and research, but the activities that got me in the flow were definitely centered around "technical things". Hence, it was obvious that professions like lawyer or politician weren't for me. Guided by this understanding, my first school internships and later studies gravitated toward tech. During my early university years, I explored various roles in tech consulting, tech sales, software engineering, research, and more.
Use your past experiences to understand and guide your exploration, but don't narrow your focus too much. Remember, part of this journey involves learning to love something new.
Cultivate Openness: Seek What You Love and Learn to Love What You Do
Having very specific ideas (e.g., "I must go into tech because …") could become a stumbling block. You may become so narrowly focused that you overlook the possibility of enjoying other fields. A constrained perspective may prevent you from acknowledging the positive aspects of a different job. So, as I've reiterated: stay open-minded! Recognize that our knowledge is limited. There's always a good chance of being pleasantly surprised.
My mantra often leaned towards, "Let's just try it, instead of overthinking it."
Foster Healthy Desire And Focus on Enjoyable People
Intense and unhealthy desires can jeopardize your openness. It's crucial to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy desires as you map your journey toward finding your passion and shaping your mental models. Consider starting with the 'Healthy Desire' series for a deep dive into this topic.
Opt for a workplace filled with people whose company you truly enjoy. This post explains why people are very important.
Conclusion: The Journey to Your Passion
Finding your passion and a fitting career is a journey that demands exploration, openness, and balanced desire. It begins with accepting your limitations, allowing you to explore new horizons. This exploration should help you identify what you love and learn to appreciate what you do. Reflect on your experiences to guide your exploration, but be flexible. Embrace the unknown, remain curious, and remember that your journey to passion is an ongoing process, not a final destination. Enjoy this path of self-discovery, growth, and personal fulfillment.
THANK YOU FOR READING!
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