I wrote a similar piece on the question if passion isn’t overrated in Dutch a little while ago, this piece on Muse by Nathaniel Koloc asks a similar question: is ‘Follow your passion’ sound advice? Well, probably not.

It’s more nuanced and hard work.

“…the passion mantra is actually not so helpful for two reasons.

First, it’s very unclear how to actually do it.

These instructions are essential pieces, but far from the complete puzzle—it’s like being told that if you want to become a movie star, you should move to Hollywood (and believe in yourself!). Even if you know what your “passion” is (as if there is just one thing you can be passionate about), there are so many other factors that matter. For example:

…Secondly, and more importantly, “follow your passion” is not helpful because it makes it sound so easy. And that is a very insidious thing, because finding meaningful work is anything but easy.

It’s hard, it takes time, and it takes serious dedication to the cause.

It means many late nights battling fear and anxiety, doubting yourself, and wondering if you’re crazy or naive or unrealistic for pursuing the path you’ve chosen.

It often means having dangerously low bank accounts for much longer than you’d hoped, until you figure out how to get the income piece to work.”