Looking for work-life balance? Consider the case AGAINST passion

View this post in it's original format here: https://begallantcoaching.com/2024/08/16/looking-for-work-life-balance-consider-the-case-against-passion-linkedin/

Are you looking for better work-life balance? You may want to consider removing passion from the “work” side of the equation.

Ok check this out and bear with me. Time to talk about something that–*in my personal-yet-informed opinion*–has been glorified a little too much: passion for your job.

Like me, you’ve probably heard the advice a gang of times—“Follow your passion and you’ll never work a day in your life.” Sounds dreamy, right? But what if I told you that being passionate about your job might actually do more harm than good? What if by and large, it’s just not true for most of us?

Here’s the thing: Passion is like that extra shot of espresso in our morning coffee (I don’t actually drink coffee). It feels great at first, but too much of it, and you’re jittery, overextended, and teetering on the edge of burnout. And that’s just the start.

Passion Can Make You an Easy Target for Exploitation

Ever noticed how companies always say they’re looking to hire “passionate” employees? There’s a reason for that. Passionate people are often willing to go the extra mile, take on more work, and do it all for less money. Why? Because they love what they do (or at least that’s what they tell themselves), and employers know it. But here’s the trick: this can lead to you being overworked, underpaid, and ultimately burned out. Your passion can very easily pave the way for your own exploitation.

Passions Change—And That Can Present A Problem

Guess what! What you’re passionate about today might not be what lights your fire tomorrow!

Uh oh!

People change, and so do their interests. When your career is tied so closely to your passion, it’s easy to then tie your identity to your career. But what happens when that passion fades? You might find yourself stuck in a job that no longer excites you, but because you’ve built your whole identity around it, leaving feels odd. Weird. Scary. Confusing. You’re about to have an identity crisis.

Passion Alone Won’t Pay The Bills

Listen, passion is great, but it’s not a guaranteed ticket to success. Just because you love doing something doesn’t mean you’re actually good at it—or that the market will pay you for it. The cold, hard truth is that success in your career often hinges more on skills, adaptability, and understanding the market than it does on passion. Being good at something and knowing how to navigate the job market are just as—if not more—important than being passionate about your job.

You’re More Than Your Job

Ever feel like your job is your whole life? That’s what happens when you’re too passionate–or behaving like you’re too passionate–about what you do. Your job becomes your identity, and any setback or irritation at work hits like a ton of bricks. How ever work is going, is how your life is going.

But here’s a wild thought: you’re more than your job. When you spread your interests across different areas of your life—whether it’s hobbies, relationships, or personal growth—you build a more resilient sense of self. This way, if work isn’t going great, it’s not the end of the world.

Tunnel Vision Is A Real Risk

When you’re too passionate, you might find yourself with tunnel vision. You get so wrapped up in your work that you miss out on other opportunities—opportunities that could lead to growth, new experiences, or even a better job. Plus, being too focused on one thing can make you resistant to change, even when change is exactly what you need.

So, What’s The Alternative?

Instead of obsessing over finding a job you’re passionate about, how about focusing on finding a job that you’re good at, that pays well, and that gives you the freedom to pursue your passions outside of work? You can still live a passionate life, and it does not have to have anything to do with your job. The goal should be to create a balanced life where your job is just one piece of the puzzle, not the whole picture.

For the record, I’m not telling you any of the following things lol:

• “Stop caring about your job.”
• “Don’t take your job seriously.”
• “Forget them people.”
• “Work that feels purposeful is bad.”

I AM saying that, for some of you, it’ll likely be much easier for you to achieve your work-life balance goals if you adjust the passion setting on the “work” side of your equation. It just might be too high.