Follow your passion or Passionately do what you are already doing?
This article is inspired by Cal Newport’s talk at Google in 2012, where he did a deep analysis of Steve Jobs famous phrase “The only way to do great work is to do what you love”.
Cal Newport is right; You do not know yet where you are heading. You only have an opportunity in front of you, that you can pick and refine hard to prove your mettle. Do your job so good, that they cannot ignore you, but let you win.
I agree, passion is for seekers. And if you are not a seeker, you got to build passion. I think, Cal went too far to convince people to not believe in “follow your passion” advise. He even quoted the oldest instance of this phrase happening in a play of 1950s. It is true, passion can be a distorted goal, and it can prove fatal to your career.
But.. Should we stop Living, if we do not find an answer?
A seeker, I try to be one, got to win his freedom. That is what Steve Jobs did while building a computer in his garage. He did not build it in IBM labs, or a workshop, or a school laboratory. He built it inside his own home. The only place that gives you true freedom to do what you truly love.
If you are not a seeker, if you do not find passion around you, or if you are not satisfied with your life, the responsibility does not fall on your shoulders. You do not deserve to be criticized. You still are a human, who needs due attention and respect. The ‘human’ claim is something that no one can snatch from you.
If it seems confusing, I am trying to say you, if quitting your job looks right to you, do it. If smuggling seems feasible, do it. If stealing or snatching seems ok, go ahead, do it.
You are a free human being. And nobody in the world, has a right over your freedom. Some pennies and pounds can not snatch away what is yours. Some good talks can not let others smash you. Some sober meetings and respectful words can not buy you.
Freedom has been your right since your birth. It got to be yours, till you die.
Be a seeker
If you are not yet convinced to quit your job, or travel north, or go off grid for some months; I believe, you have not yet become a true seeker.
Let me confess, I too have not become a seeker.
A seeker, does not have a boundary, a barrier, a limit to crave his wantings. He doesn’t stop, excuse or shudder. He is quiet. He is happy. He is free.
Follow your passion, is solely, a way of life. It gives you wings to take a flight and move with a permanent mind set to one place. Stay here. Explore. Find the meanings. And erase the permanent mindset.
It has been preached by Prophet Muhammad PBUH. His companions lived a life of freedom. Some could fight a battle, some could knit clothes and some could act messengers. All were equal, to do what all wanted and still carry a rank, a responsibility or a title on their shoulder.
Conclusion
Cal Newport is not wrong here. Steve Jobs also was not wrong. All great people find their new ‘new’ and pursue it. Some become great artist, some technology enthusiasts and some religious figure.
All the people around us have somehow found the right way to live their lives. All have discovered what makes them happy. All know the truth, the right and the wrong. All have the core recipe to live a life of a great artist.
Difference lie when some fail to act, some fail to give up on ego, some fail to unlearn and some fail to show up. Life had it all, for all of us. Some decided to live their entire life in poverty and not win back their lost dignity. Some decide to take the hits, fall, fail and still not give up. These, the later kind, are called seekers, who never stop living.
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