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Miffa Salter's avatar

Some great points as always Forbes. It has got me thinking about the following:

1. "Find your passion" suggests that there will be only ONE, like "one true love". Most people will have many different passions in their life, some which come and go, some which stay around for ever, some which they indulge in ad hoc, some which are part of the routine etc. To assume you find ONE, and stick with ONE is just illogical and non-sensical. We are complex beasts and our passionS change.

2. "Find your purpose(s)" is a more interesting place to start and one which lies at the heart of understanding your offer. I think that this is where your beautifully phrased questions do help e.g. what would you teach, when are you in the flow etc.

3. "Find your power / potential" is another more useful one because again this is about what you offer up out of yourself to others whereas passion seems to be more about how you self-gratify / feel better about / receive a return on an interaction.

Passion is great - it often accompanies purpose and potential but should not be confused with either one. As I often have to remind clients who tell me that they have lost their passion for a given undertaking, it is something that ebbs and flows....you need to live with that. Just like in any human relationship, if you have made a choice based on purpose and potential then you can surf the highs and lows of passion with the knowledge that you are anchored in core value. I think what most people are seeking is a far more fundamental alignment and the passion conversation deflects from something more substantial.

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John's avatar

Interesting post. Worth considering the flip side too. Sometimes turning a / hobby into a job can have unintended consequences. The obvious is that it no longer stays your passion, as it has now become your way of earning a living! As you know, from our discussions, I did consider being a kite-surfing instructor, but when I thought about it logically I realised it might not be such a great idea.

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