www.lifehack.org: It’s not easy to find and follow your passion. Actually, it requires all your strength, time, and effort to do it. You have to dig deep down inside you. You have to drill deeper than deep. Yes, go down, deep down into your inmost until you reach the bottom where you can see clearly, and get the answers you need. It’s hard work.
22 comments:
Thank you for this post. As I was reading the articles, I had to stop and say how much this post reminded me why I am where I am and what I need to do. sometimes in this convoluted world we live in it is all too easy to lose track of the course you are on. But you reminded me that its not always easy, and that sometimes we have to weather the storm in order to see the other side. As a member of the LDS church and a very active participant in the theater, I sometimes get confused about who I am, because I have a lot of people telling me different things. But you reminded me that I just have to take a step back and realize who I am. So, honestly, Thank you.
This is definitely an article for me. I've been struggling trying to figure out what my passion is and recently I think I'm finding it. For the past four/five years I was set to become an architect and last year, I noticed that I really didn't like it. It's weird to just post this coming comment online but I have come to terms with it so I might as well. The article mentioned about some magical moment when you know that you've found your passion. It's funny because that's exactly how I feel like it would be. I have never been happy before, and if I have, I have completely disassociated myself with the experience because I don't understand what the feeling is. I keep thinking that when I find my passion, I'll know because I'll get this feeling of happiness and I'll know that I am happy. Ever since I switched majors, I've been feeling better about everything. I might have even been happy. I'm still discovering who I am and what my passion is, but never have I ever felt closer to where I want to be in my life.
That was a weird article. I think that if you are unable to do what "your passion" is, maybe there's a reason for it. If what ever you want to do "deep down inside" is something that will give you no career or money, or could possibly take you life, I wouldn't be so quick to jump into it. We have inhibitions about doing things for a reason. I can explore things that intrigue me, and I can try to bring my favorite activities into my business, but ultimately if all I wanted to do was jump of cliffs with no parachute for the rest of my life, is that such a good idea? While it's important to know what makes you happy, it's also important to be realistic and understand that those inhibitions are there for a reason.
Finding ones passion…probably one of the most difficult things to do…or maybe not the most difficult. Maybe trickiest or scariest? It could probably be the most a lot of thing. I feel like some people are born knowing their passion. They live it and are it and it just happens like that. I've always struggled with loving so many things but not knowing if I could say that I was 'passionate' about one of them. I think I've come to realize that it's ok to be passionate about many things. I enjoyed reading and thinking about the questions posed in this article. I think these are good things to think about. I don't think there's ever a rush to find your passion or a time limit or anything. These days we feel so much pressure to find a career and stick to it. Plus with the job market as it is it's becoming harder and harder for young people to get going and do what they want to do. Anyway, I think it's worth taking a look at these questions and see where they lead you. If anything, it's always good to see how you respond to yourself and continue to test yourself through the years, figuring out what makes you tick and how you can find the best life for yourself.
This is an extremely great article to have on this blog. Finding your "life passion" is probably one of the most difficult and exciting things that can happen. I love that as I was reading this, I was reminded of the things that have brought me to where I am today. This article reminded me of the ways that I found Carnegie Mellon and the ways that I discovered where I wanted to be and why. I am lucky to have found the place that will help me become who I want to be and work where I want to work. I could go on a rant about how "finding my passion" completely changed who I am as a person, but that would take hours. However, I can honestly say that this article is something that everyone should have a look at and that will hopefully inspire people and help them find their passion as well.
I think the questions that this article poses, are questions that people don't really ask themselves. To be honest, looking that closely at one's self is extremely uncomfortable. You can't really lie or hide from yourself. And I also feel that finding one's passion in life isn't something that society really supports. We live in a culture where it's about making money and having financial security. Thing's like the arts aren't something that are really supported. I feel that in theatre, a lot of people don't really have this struggle. No one really choses to become a starving artist for kicks.
Everybody's consumption with "finding their passion" is frustrating. This seems to have become less of a thing that one discovers through existing in the world and stumbling upon things they are good at and enjoy, and more of a thing that one feels the need to spend long hours analyzing their life trying to discover. Recently, there was an article published on what could be a source of the current generation's perpetual unhappiness. People seem to have gone from trying to fill a certain niche so they could live wealthier lives than the generation before them to holding a belief that they are all "special" and much accordingly "follow their dreams." While this notion does not apply to everyone I've come across, it is an astute observation of a general trend. And, while I don't believe it i incorrect to seek happiness, I do believe it is being chased after in a much more serious way than in the past.
The man who wrote this article is in his late twenties, making him a little bit older than me, but even at the age of twenty, I feel like I no longer have time to figure out who I want to be. Society pressures us so much into knowing a plan for our life even before we graduate from high school. It's quite frightening and intimidating, but everyone goes through it. In high school I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I loved writing, art, science, and theater, but I knew that I couldn't study everything, If I wanted to be successful at anything. When I applied to college I decided to study architecture, and although I was happy with my choice, after time I realized that was not where my true passion lied. Now that I'm in the school of drama, I feel better than I ever have about what I'm studying and spending my time doing at college. It really is important to pinpoint your passions and follow them , especially when you are still young.
In general, this was a good guide. However, if someone was truly struggling to find their passion I don't think it would have helped them miraculously break through and find it or anything of the sort. It was nice to think about though. One point that I did find interesting was under number 9 where it said you don't have to believe in yourself to get started. So many people avoid doing things that are uncomfortable or unfamiliar. They back away because they're afraid to fail. I think it's really good advice to remind people they don't always have to be confident in what they are doing. That unease can help you learn and grow.
This article is terrifying. He definitely wasn't lying when he said in the intro that the questions he asks force people to go deep. What surprised me most about it though, was how uncomfortable or guilty I felt when I tried to answer those questions. I couldn't even answer all of them. after the fourth one I stopped even thinking about my answers. I've always known that my passion is theater and art and I think I'm doing a pretty good job of following that right now. I can't imagine how it would feel if that shifted or if I "grew out of my passion." I suppose that's the cool thing about theater though; it changes along with the artists. If the things that I am passionate about change, that will reflect in my work, not stop me from creating it.
I love that this article was posted! This is great timing because I am trying to figure out what concentration I will declare at my next crit. I have been struggling with this decision and figuring out how I should make it. Should I be looking at what I want to get out of CMU? Should I look at what I want to do when I grow up? Now I think I am going to look at where my passions lie. Also, I love the question, What is stopping you? which is basically rewritten into different questions. I believe that many life questions come down to that one.
I feel extremely lucky to be among the few that found their passion at a very very young age. But even so I thought this was a fantastic list of self evaluation questions. Even though I feel I know exactly what I want to do with my life there are still many uncertainness out there and I do actually find myself thinking about a lot of these things. I think it is very important to always keep evaluating yourself and your situation to make sure you are where you want to be and you know how to get where you want to go. Or at least that you want to go there.
This article was actually a happy surprise because it was one of those that I rolled my eyes at because it sounded so cheesy, but clicked on anyways and found some real substantial thoughts. No matter who or where you are in life you should think like this every once in a while.
This article is definitely a thought provoking one. I haven't had a chance to answer these questions myself yet, but I have had a lot on my mind recently and this questions asked are definitely ones that can help me solve some of it. Now, I know this won't be for everybody, but it is one I have shared with others in Scobell House and the Freshman RAs since the questions can be used for more than just finding your passion(s).
It actually makes me a little nervous even thinking about answering those questions, but they are ones that definitely need to be answered. I agree with Albert when he says these are things to be answered and figured out when we are still young. One could do this at any point in their lives, but it could mean living unhappily or unsatisfied for quite a while first.
I know this is another jump, but this article obviously isn't the perfect solution, but it definitely helps and can get one started, which is very important... I could keep on talking for awhile, so I think I will end my comments now :P
I think the most thought-provoking of these questions was the classic "What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?". I say "classic" because I feel like we have all heard it before, but that doesn't invalidate its intent. For me it really forces me to isolate my fears and identify obstacles, and encourage internal reflection.
I routinly look at what I'm doing and ask myself "is there anything else I want to do with my life." As long as I can answer that with what I'm doing, I don't feel bad about what I'm doing. I feel that especially in the theatrical world that there are people that are doing this but it's no longer what they want to be doing, and as long as they stay in the industry they are not going to be happy. You have to find what makes you happy and pursue that, but you need to always be thinking about what it is that makes what you are doing a happy and enjoyable pursuit.
To find this article on this blog is definitely inspiring and heartwarming. To know that where I am right now is because of my passion is amazing and satisfying. I discovered my passion in the 10th grade when I realized that I love theatre and love working to make these amazing productions happen. My passion fueled my drive and my need to succeed and do well. Next thing I knew I was walking through the doors of Carnegie Mellon University's School of Drama completely in awe. I would not be where I am today if it were not for my passion and my desire to pursue my dreams and goals. Finding my passion was not easy, but the work was so worth it.
I found this article really interesting because a friend and I were having this conversation not to long ago. He is stuck in a major that he doesn't know if wants to pursue as a career, but instead of changing, he would rather settle for job security and put his happiness second. I believe that the majority of people make this decision as opposed to answering these questions and it is a huge problem. The amount of innovation and progress that could come from people following their passions is ridiculous and its sad to think that we are missing out on all of it.
Before I read this article, I was skeptical. "Lifehack" didn't sound really credible to me, but I kept reading. But, as I read on, I felt myself connecting more and more with the questions. I've been wanting to go into theater since the age of sixteen. I went through a lot of thought about it in the college process and eventually I had to go with what made me truly happy in life: stage management. In a way, I've been living with these questions for the past couple months. Reading this article made me happy I chose to follow my passion. I think I'm on the right track.
On a non-personal note, this is a great guideline for people who are stuck at points in their lives where they feel nothing for the job they hold or the major they've declared. This list truly makes you think about what you want out of life and how you as a person are going to achieve your goals. I'm bookmarking this, for sure.
It is quite coincidental to read this article at this time. just last year I knew so many struggling to pick a passion to study in college and I know many still having a hard time with that. In my own experience, I've stumbled upon answering a lot of these questions at different times in my life but they have definitely led me here. I think it is important to know what you want in life and look for it was well as be happy with what you have. I think finding happiness in current situations is a big step in finding your passion and it's something this article seems to leave out. If you are unhappy currently, how can you change your view to see the light at the end of the tunnel?
I agree with what many above me have said: asking these questions of yourself can be really difficult, and especially if you're young and in college and are having to make a lot of tough decisions about what you want to do with your life. However, I do think that it is absolutely not necessary to hammer down your passion when you're 18 or 19 or even in your 20s. You do not need to decide what you want to do with the rest of your life right now. A great point that this article makes in its questions is to point out that people's passions can change, and what you were passionate about 2 or 5 years ago does not have to be the case today. In other words, you're not stuck to following your first passion.
The problem that I have with things like this, is that most people don't just have one passion, or one dream or one thing that they completely aspire towards. Most people have a list of things and then they have to choose which one. For example, if I had my way I would be pursuing acting or directing, but that would not have been possible given that the majority of my experience was in other areas. I have numerous interests that have led to a few passions. Also one thing that this article fails to deal with is that sometimes ones circumstances influence how they follow or don't follow their passions. If someone can't get pass this question, "How could you solve those problems?" then that is a huge road block and in reality most people aren't able to move beyond that point.
I really applaud this article because it comments on a topic that is often assumed, but very rarely discussed. Thankfully in my classes and co-cirriculars, these discussions are frequent. Part of being an excellent artist is being an excellent person, to be open and accepting of the world surrounding you and your place and relationship to each of its elements. Similarly, to be driven is not enough, but instead one must always know what one is driving towards. Without asking these questions, it’s very easy to find yourself working very hard at nothing, and once it is “attained” you still feel empty inside. Yet even so, life is not about a single destination, but rather a continual journey. In a field that is full of competition and rejection, it becomes quintessential that we remember these things and define our success not by single actions or moments, but rather the quality of the journey we find ourselves on.
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