Importance of pursuing passion outside education or work
By Koyel Mitra
Oprah Winfrey once said, “Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.” And we couldn’t agree more!
So, what is passion? If you try looking for a textbook definition, you will find words like ‘powerful’, ‘conviction’, ‘drive’, ‘strong liking’, ‘affection’, ‘intense desire’, ‘compelling’… Passion is all of the above and so much more. Passion is the fuel in the fire of action. Passion is the enthusiasm to create something new. Passion is the power to push you through difficult times. Passion is hope… light… and at times, life!
There’s nothing better than being in an occupation that can help you pursue your passion, but life doesn’t always work out that conveniently. Not every degree, nor every job affords the possibility of pursuing a passion, more so because of time constraints. Especially in a world that rewards “hustle”, we seldom leave our laptops. Day in and day out, we are either working on a school project, a college assignment, or working on building a career, a business or family. While many of us have found the opportunity to turn our passion into a paycheck, the rest of us who haven’t, need to pursue our passion beyond school, college, work, and our businesses, too. And that’s not just me saying it… Research suggests that pursuing your passion does indeed improve your overall well-being and can actually have a positive impact on your academic and professional success.
Once you make the decision to pursue your passion, you might be surprised with how many unexpected skills you develop. Many interests and passion involve meeting new people, experiencing new environments and even changing your attitude. Transferable skills that you acquire while pursuing your passion like adaptability, teamwork, critical thinking, and problem solving can be utilised in a variety of situations, including your school, college, or workplace. Moreover, passion brings with it unconditional joy, giving you a break from the monotony of life. And happiness can only make you more positive and productive.
A passion not only makes you more resilient by keeping burnout at bay, but the benefits delve deeper. When you pursue hobbies and interests, you’re actively choosing to spend time on your passion. This element of choice is extremely important for psychological wellbeing. Each of us are multi-faceted — Round the clock we play multiple roles, that of a friend, a parent, a student, an employee and even at times that of an influencer. A passionate pastime adds another identity to your portfolio of selves and allows you to take pride in it. And who doesn’t like a pinch of swagger?
In today’s fast-changing job market, you’ll be expected to move in multiple directions beyond your scholastic understandings, pursuing a passion will allow you to grow and to explore alternative avenues and make important life decisions. This sense of ownership over your life, and the feeling that you are in control of what you do, can boost your confidence, and get you ready to overcome challenges in other areas of your life.
So, take the leap of faith. Pick up the guitar, that’s rusting in a corner, attend that pottery class, write that short story you intended to, pick up that tennis racket, that bat or the ball and go for it. If you keep an open mind, you’ll soon find a new you, ready with a whole new, useful toolkit for life.
