Screw Finding Your Passion

Screw Finding Your Passion by Mark Manson

A Response to the Article: Screw Finding Your Passion

By: Areigna Ralston

            Screw finding your passion. An interesting statement that is. When we’re younger we tend to think about the ‘daring’ things, the daring jobs. We like to say we’re going to be Astronauts, Models, maybe even the President. I think of those as our ‘daring’ choices. But as we get older we are always looking for realistic things. There are so many classes you can take and extracurriculars you can participate as a young adult to try and find you’re interests. But lot’s of us find ourselves saying, “What should I do for a career?” and well people almost always then ask, “What’s your passion?”

            That’s what stumps us every time. What’s my passion?

            In this eye-opening article, “Screw Finding Your Passion” by Mark Manson, he answers this question in a way that almost makes sense, “It’s right there in front of you, you’re just ignoring it.” Yeah, I know. I thought he was bullshitting too.

            Manson begins this article with the past. As children we didn’t think to do something because we knew it would benefit us later, we just did it because we liked doing it. There was no doubting our skill or thinking, “Oh, well professional soccer players make a lot of money, I should do that.”

            No.

            We just did something because we enjoyed doing it. That’s one thing everyone struggles with. Manson says, “The problem is not a lack of passion for something. The problem is productivity. The problem is perception. The problem is acceptance… The problem isn’t passion. It’s never passion. It’s priorities.” Read that a couple of times and you’ll realize how true it is.

            We grow up being told we’re supposed to be doctors or teachers. We are told to be successful and some jobs just don’t fit that stereotype. But why can’t they? Manson uses the example of a comic book writer. People think, “Oh well, yeah. I love comic books but that doesn’t count. You can’t make any money with comic books.”

            Why can’t you? Have you even tried?

            Your passion is not something you look for. It is not something that will just pop into your mind and you’ll say, “Oh, that’s what I’m supposed to do with the rest of my life,” that’s just not how it works. It is something you enjoy doing, something you support.

            It comes down to this. If you think you’re passionate about something make time for it. Accept what it is, make it a priority. Don’t spend your life doing something that you don’t like doing. Even if your passion isn’t what the average American might do, who cares. It’s about what you’re passionate about.

            So stop ignoring it.