The Myth of “Follow Your Passion”

We’ve heard it before, and we’ll hear it again. “Simply follow your passion, and success will follow.” The phrase encapsulating the notion that pursuing what you love will inherently yield great success sounds inspirational and captivating. Indeed, a lot of people cheer for it, using it as motivation. But let’s pause for a moment and contemplate everything surrounding the narrative.

Is this statement doing more harm than good? Could it be possible that the seemingly harmless line “follow your passion” does not serve as a pathway to success, but instead offers a path strewn with frustration and dissatisfaction? Join as we try to look at it through the lens of psychology and real life scenarios.

Does Psychology Reveal A Better Path To Career Fulfillment?

1. Where Did This “Passion” Idea Even Come From?

The passion-driven mantra surfaced during the self-actualization era in the 1980s. Pop psychology alongside motivational speakers anxiously encouraged individuals to look within. Think of Maslow’s hierarchy: After satisfying basic needs, an individual strives for higher order needs like purpose and fulfillment.

Up to this point, it all makes sense.

Somewhere down the line, things went awry. The paradigm shifted to “everyone has one true passion they are meant to pursue,” misleading the society to believe that a single discovery would simply set everything in motion.

A well-known psychologist, Carol Dweck, alongside Paul O’Keefe, conducted an eye-opening study where they analyzed the effects of passion’s pre-existing versus developed perception. They found that individuals who believed passion was “waiting to be engraved,” as opposed to evolving over time, tended to give up much earlier when facing challenges.

2. Passion Is Not a Lightning Bolt – It’s a Slow Burn

Passion is not something one comes across one day, feeling like a sudden spark of inspiration. It certainly is not lazing around in a cave, waiting to be stumbled upon in a Paris workshop. The reality is that not many people have a single passion set aside for them from the day they take their first breath. Interests take shape. Achievements flourish. Interests evolve.

Passion is much closer to an effective relationship. You come across a certain notion, you explore it, you work on it, you go through a lot—and finally, it captures your heart.

Let’s take a more practical example of this: Dr. Angela Duckworth and her work on grit. Research has shown that individuals who build satisfaction in their day to day jobs tend to derive some form of effortless passion. Most of the time, they haven’t discovered it but rather built it through effort. It’s less about finding elusive creatures and instead more on cultivating one’s garden.

3. The Pressure to “Find Your Passion” Can Be Crippling

Imagine being 21 and just graduated from college and you’re told that you need to figure out what your purpose is in life. But what if you don’t? Are you broken? Are you behind? lost? This is when the myth becomes detrimental. Psychologist Barry Schwartz, author of The Paradox of Choice, states that thinking you “must” figure out the “perfect” passion contributes to anxiety, indecision, and even the fear of failing. Being free doesn’t mean endlessly searching for “the one.” We become terrified of committing ourselves to a job, a project, or even a hobby unless it lights us up instantly. This is not realistic or healthy. In fact, our passion is usually the result of making a commitment, making progress, making a difference, and growing within that commitment.

4. You Don’t Need Passion to Start – You Need Curiosity

Let’s talk very practically now. Rather than waiting for passion to emerge like a soul mate, get started with curiosity instead. What captures your attention? What immerses you in a sense of timelessness? Something you enjoy learning about just to learn about it, with no real reason or reward? Psychologists believe curiosity is a better compass than passion. Curiosity is flexible, low-risk, and allows you to play and foster without the fear of failure or unworthiness. Todd Kashdan, author of “Curious? Discover the Missing Ingredient to a Fulfilling Life”, even finds that people who pursue their curiosity are more resilient, adaptable, and satisfied in their personal lives, regardless of any passion. Curiosity isn’t demanding and simply asks you to just take a step.

5. Passion Alone Doesn’t Pay the Bills (Harsh, but True)

Suppose you have a passion for painting vintage scooters. Or perhaps writing romantic fan fiction is your passion. Or maybe you love to study clouds and write about it. That’s all great, but could you make a living based on it? Would you still enjoy it as a full-time job? Passion is a wonderful thing but can sometimes not be practical. And that’s okay. Career psychologists like Dr. Herminia Ibarra argue about the importance of trying out different identities before finding one that ‘fits.’ If you need to work a job to pay the bills while on the side keeping alive your passions, go for it. Over time the two can exist in concert or not. Your job doesn’t necessarily need to be your passion. Sometimes your passion exists outside your profession—which is also valid.

6. Passion Can Be Dangerous When It’s Blind

Here is something we don’t discuss enough: passion can be misleading. Psychological research studies on “obsessive” versus “harmonious passion shows ” explain that not all passion is a good thing. Obsessive passion is when you become obsessed with something, neglect other responsibilities, or experience burnout. Harmonious passion is a deep engagement in something while keeping space for everything else you care about in your life. You love it, but it doesn’t have ownership of you. That society romanticizes people that “risk it all for their dreams” while science says balance is better.

7. Purpose Matters More Than Passion

Passion is the love of what you do.

Purpose is the ability to find your way in dedicating yourself to others.

Research indicates that when individuals believe they are contributing to something bigger, such as teaching, caregiving, inventions or creating — the most fulfilled over time. Victor Frankl, survivor of the Holocaust and author of Man’s Search for Meaning contended that true fulfilment is not to be found in pleasure, or passion (even), but rather purpose.

Perhaps instead of “What am I passionate about?”, we should be asking:

“What kind of problems do I want  to solve?”

“Who do I want to make life better for?”

 “What matters to me in life?”

8. The Real Way to Build a Fulfilling Life

Let’s get real.

Blindly following passion does not lead to a meaningful career or life. It comes from (messier):

• Curiosity- what pulls you
• Strength – what you are strong in or can get good at.
• Values– what the world needs and will reward you enough for
• Effort- what you are willing to sacrifice even when sacrifice is hard

This is known as the Ikigai (Japanese concept loosely translates to “the reason for being”) which we often fall into. It is the art of figuring out where your interests/ talents meet the needs of the world.

Final Thoughts: Ditch the Myth, Embrace the Journey

You do not require a massive passion to have a life worth living. You do not have to have it all. You’re not behind if you never found your calling. Rather, begin from where you are. Be in-the-moment curious. Invest in yourself, experiment ,fail, make an attempt ,question better, find meaning,get skills, serve people, and listen to what makes you feel alive. Passion is not an achievement that you accomplish- it is the footprint of a trail you blaze, constructed with small sparks of curiosity,courage and consistency.

Hence, let us redraft the advice.

“Not  ‘Do what you love,’”

But—

“Follow your curiosity. Invest in self-improvement. Build Your Passion”

The true magic happens there.

FAQs

1. Should I completely ignore my passion when choosing a career?

A: Not at all. Passion can be a valuable ingredient, but it shouldn’t be the only one. Instead of chasing it blindly, try to cultivate it through effort, curiosity, and real-world experience. Let it evolve alongside your skills and values.

2. What if I have no idea what I’m passionate about?

A: That’s completely normal. Many people don’t start with a clear passion. Begin with what interests you even slightly. Pursue curiosity, try different things, and passion will often emerge from what you consistently enjoy and get better at.

3. Can I have more than one passion?

A: Absolutely. Passions are not always singular or fixed. They can change with time, experience, and stages of life. Embrace flexibility, and allow yourself the freedom to evolve.

4. How do I know if I’ve found my purpose?

A: Purpose often feels like contributing to something bigger than yourself. Ask: What problems am I drawn to solve? Who do I want to help? What values drive me? It’s less about a big epiphany and more about small, consistent alignments over time.