Is 'finding your passion' a worthwhile endeavor, or a snipe hunt?
The formal induction into my husband's family was the night they took me on a snip hunt. My own family had no sense of humor to speak of, and so I'd never heard of a snipe. Thankfully, I caught on pretty quick. However in those first moments I had this odd sense that everyone had this grand secret that I just didn't get. It was the same feeling I got in college when I was supposed to be 'finding my passion'.
Early on in my job history I tried on many hats. None of them seemed to fit and as I watched people create successful careers around me I wondered how they did it. How did they find that one thing that they were willing to commit the rest of their life to, day in, day out, nights and weekends? There was no job I wanted to throw myself that deep into. Professional snowboarders, magazine editors, nurses. How did they know what would bring them joy? Is there just one thing?
In the short video below, Terri Trespicio says 'You don't follow your passion. Your passion follows you."
Early on in my job history I tried on many hats. None of them seemed to fit and as I watched people create successful careers around me I wondered how they did it. How did they find that one thing that they were willing to commit the rest of their life to, day in, day out, nights and weekends? There was no job I wanted to throw myself that deep into. Professional snowboarders, magazine editors, nurses. How did they know what would bring them joy? Is there just one thing?
In the short video below, Terri Trespicio says 'You don't follow your passion. Your passion follows you."
Is Terri right?
I believe she is partly right. I agree that window cleaners are probably not 'passionate about clean glass'. However, I bet there is something in their life that brings them joy, which they are passionate about. I bet it's something like fishing, and they collect or even make their own flys. I bet they love finding a newbie on the river to share their experience with, and I bet they love taking their grandchildren fishing with them .See, that is their passion.
Mel Robins talks about how to identify that thing which brings you joy a.k.a. 'your passion' in this video.
Mel Robins talks about how to identify that thing which brings you joy a.k.a. 'your passion' in this video.
The great myth, or snipe hunt if you will, is that you have only found your passion if you make money doing it. I discovered, way later in life than I should have, that I had been doing my passion all along. Through all the crappy jobs of my youth, through motherhood, and wifehood, I wrote. Sometimes journaling, sometimes writing short stories, sometimes telling stories I made up to my kids. But I was doing it already. And it filled me up, as Mel said. See, I think many of us are already doing our passion.
The great illusive 'snipe' everyone is searching for is how to monetize it and turn it into a career. Is that necessary? It depends on what your goals are. If your goal is to make a million dollars doing that thing you love, go for it. If your goal is to feed your family and teach your kids to fish, that is okay too. And in that aspect, both women in the videos above are spot on.
Do you have something in your life you love to do, paid or not? Share your passion with me in the comments below. I'd love to hear about them.
The great illusive 'snipe' everyone is searching for is how to monetize it and turn it into a career. Is that necessary? It depends on what your goals are. If your goal is to make a million dollars doing that thing you love, go for it. If your goal is to feed your family and teach your kids to fish, that is okay too. And in that aspect, both women in the videos above are spot on.
Do you have something in your life you love to do, paid or not? Share your passion with me in the comments below. I'd love to hear about them.
