Gracefully Charging Forward: Passion, Mistakes, and the Art of Soft Power

This weekend, mid-way through one of those epic four-hour conversations with my dad (because, yes, serial conversations are our love language), he hit me with a line so profound it stopped me in my tracks:

"It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it. Unbridled passion renders you a bull in a china shop."

Ouch. But also... wow. Because the truth is, I’ve spent much of my life as that bull. Barreling forward with every ounce of energy and intention, certain that my sheer force of passion could change everything in its path. And sometimes, it did! But other times, that unchanneled energy left me exhausted, misunderstood, or surrounded by metaphorical shards of porcelain.

Here’s the thing: Passion isn’t the problem. It’s the lack of strategy, grace, and self-compassion that lets it run wild.

Learning to Harness Passion

Passion is a gift—an often undervalued superpower in professional spaces. It’s what drives creativity, perseverance, and innovation. According to a Deloitte study, employees driven by passion are 125% more productive and significantly more likely to approach challenges with curiosity and resilience.

But here’s the catch: many of us (myself included) have been taught to suppress this energy, especially in environments that value conformity over creativity. For years, I treated my passion like something to apologize for, softening my voice and second-guessing my ideas to fit into spaces that weren’t built for people like me—Black, female, intellectual, joyful, and unapologetic.

It’s taken me time, and a whole lot of missteps, to learn that the power of passion lies not in its volume, but in its application. The goal isn’t to silence it; it’s to channel it.

Mistakes Are Beautiful—When You Let Them Be

If passion fuels innovation, mistakes are its co-pilot. Neuroscience tells us that mistakes are not only normal but critical for growth. When we make a mistake, our brain’s anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) activates, signaling that something unexpected has occurred. This activates a process known as error-based learning, which rewires neural pathways to improve future performance.

With grace—both from ourselves and others—this process becomes even more powerful. Research shows that when people feel psychologically safe, their brains produce oxytocin, a hormone that fosters trust and encourages creative problem-solving. Conversely, environments steeped in shame or fear inhibit learning by triggering a fight-or-flight response, which shuts down the brain's ability to process new information effectively.

For neurodivergent individuals, the experience of making mistakes might look or feel different. Some may have heightened sensitivity to criticism or need additional time to process feedback. Others might approach problem-solving in unconventional but brilliant ways. Creating spaces where everyone, regardless of neurotypicality, can learn from mistakes with grace is not just inclusive—it’s transformative.

Passion and Grace: A Partnership in Progress

Maya Angelou said it best: “When you know better, you do better.” Passion gives us the drive to innovate, and grace allows us to learn from the inevitable stumbles along the way. Together, they are a roadmap for not just professional success but a deeply fulfilling life.

What would it look like to cultivate passion-positive spaces in your workplace? To actively celebrate curiosity and mistakes as the building blocks of creativity? To extend grace to yourself and others, allowing everyone to fail forward with dignity?

I’m still learning, but what I know now is this: When we lean into love—whether it’s for our work, our colleagues, or ourselves—we become unstoppable.

What about you? Where can you infuse a little more passion and grace in your own life?