Passion or Interest

We are often asked to follow our passion to live a fulfilling life. However we may look very hard for our passion to no avail. Tips like asking yourself what subject you can read 500 books about without feeling bored or remember what you love doing when you were a child may lead you nowhere.

Paul A O'Keefe, an assistant professor of psychology at Yale NUS gives us hope when he suggests that interests and passion aren't waiting to be found or revealed. Instead we have to actively develop them through effort and commitment. He goes on to illustrate how the advice to 'find' your passion can actually mislead you into thinking that once the interest is found pursuing it will be a breeze. Thus when you face difficulties in the process you conclude that it isn't your passion after all and give it up. 'Finding your passion' mindset also constrains one into believing that interests are fixed and inherent in a person.

'Developing your passion' on the contrary is a 'growth' mindset encouraging one to explore by trying different area of interests. With a 'developing' attitude one willingly puts in more effort, commitment and perseverance.

In my case I know clearly I am no good with my hands and art thus ruling out many area of interest. Hence there is no need to waste time exploring pottery, cookery, painting etc. I sense I am good with children and have a bit of imagination. Thus story telling comes quite easy and engaging with children is mostly a pleasure. However it can not be described as a consuming passion. But does a passion need to be all consuming? Does it need to take center stage of our life? It has often been said that your passion is the purpose you are in this world. It can then be quite disheartening if one fails in finding one's passion.

Just the other day I was at the Children's Home engaging with a boy and a girl. It is common for children at the Children's Home to fortify a play home with walls and fences to protect the toy children figurines  within. The boy was busy looking for items to create a solid boundary for his home. The girl was constructing another home using lego blocks. I joined in the play by building blocks of lego wall for the boy's play home. The three of us were engrossed working quietly together. Momentarily I became aware of the state of complete ease and enjoyment I was experiencing. I realised that feeling was what people often describe as being in the flow.

I guess it doesn't matter what you call it, be it consuming passion or mere interest. One should aim to explore activities  that generate such enjoyable absorption and foster being with the present moment.