Steve Jobs famously advised graduates in his 2005 Stanford University commencement speech: “You’ve got to find what you love. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle!”

Seriously? Does that mean you need to step away from all other opportunities that may fulfill a need (rent, food, personal development, for example) in a singular pursuit of your passion???

Do you really need THAT pressure?!

Not according to scientists, who say that it’s more important to develop your passion(s) rather than focusing your time and energy on finding the one thing that you perceive as your life’s purpose and source of ultimate happiness. In fact, by “putting all your eggs in one basket” you may be setting yourself up for failure when that basket becomes too heavy a load.

And you limit yourself, the quality of your life, and your opportunity for happiness by thinking that there’s only one path (fixed approach) rather than multiple paths (growth approach) to that end.

In an article and TED talk for TED’s “How to Be a Better Human” series, author Cleo Wade asks, “Why are we putting the pressure on ourselves to have one purpose or one passion?”

“Our 9-to-5 jobs do not have to be how we identify ourselves. They can be, but are not always, the place we feel our greatest sense of purpose or passion. Sometimes a job is just how we pay our bills, which is absolutely fine. And there’s nothing wrong with that.”

I firmly believe that you can like what you do, maybe even love what you do, without having to sacrifice the rest of your life. You can have a full life where you love multiple areas and not just your work.

Want to learn how? Listen to my podcast, Passion and Work – Is It Possible? for a very easy exercise in finding what you love in ALL areas of your life.

Till next time, keep it real.

Karen

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