Passion is most often defined as doing what you love. Consequently, we define success as being the chance to do something that you love doing. The idea sounds romantic. Unfortunately, it’s not always practical. Sometimes doing what you love even gets you in more trouble than good.
Nowadays, passion is popular. Everyone wants to turn passion into a profession and purpose. But reality will tell us that that doesn’t always work. An 8-5 employee leaves his day job to start a business only to lose his way because his idea isn’t sustainable. A wannabe singer is determined to be the next music Youtube sensation, but turns up to be the butt of all meme jokes for even trying.
Passion is powerful. It’s a driving force that will fast track our growth. So why do so many people who try to turn passion into a profession fail? It’s not because passion doesn’t work. It’s because so many people misunderstand passion. Many people define passion as doing what you love. But viewing passion as doing whatever it is you want to do is both selfish and flawed. I want to introduce you to a better alternative that will never betray you.
The Better Alternative
A thought hit me as I was washing the dishes after dinner- something I have ended up doing 95% of the time. I’ll be honest- I hate washing dishes. Nevertheless, I still wash the dishes. Why? Because my wife hates washing dishes more. So I’ve decided to do it whenever possible. Why? Not because I love washing dishes, but because I love my wife.
I don’t like washing dishes one bit, but I still do it as passionately as possible. Here’s the point: passion is not about what you want to do, but about who you do it for.
It’s time to redefine passion. It has very little about what you do, and more to do with who you do it for. Do things for others and you will always feel passionate about what you do.
For Whom Do You Do What You Do?
We delimit passion to nothing but a delightful hobby when we focus to much on doing what we love. Do you love ministry, business, arts, singing, dancing, chemistry or astrophysics? Why? Is it simply because of your personal feelings towards it?
When we derive passion from a desire to do something for someone, that’s when passion will turn into profession and purpose. Don’t focus on doing what you love. Focus on doing things for people that you love.
Do you hate what you do? Think about the customers you serve, the family you get to provide for with your salary, the boss that is glad with your output, the coworkers that become your friends. Yes, there are instances that the work will be dreary and boring. But if you focus on the “who” instead of the “what,” you’ll have more passion for what you do as well.
Who do you do what you do for? Do it for yourself, for the money, for the thrill and you’ll never find passion. But if you do it for other people around you and- moreover- for God as a means of worship and you will consequently love what you do. It’s time to redefine passion. It has very little about what you do, and more to do with who you do it for. Do things for others and you will always feel passionate about what you do.
