Feeling rather than thinking.

From Implicit Theories of Interest: Finding Your Passion or Developing It? by Paul A. O’Keefe, Carol S. Dweck, and Gregory M. Walton. From the Abstract:

People are often told to find their passion as though passions and interests are pre-formed and must simply be discovered. This idea, however, has hidden motivational implications. Five studies examined implicit theories of interest—the idea that personal interests are relatively fixed (fixed theory) or developed (growth theory). Whether assessed or experimentally induced, a fixed theory was more likely to dampen interest in areas outside people’s existing interests (Studies 1–3). Those endorsing a fixed theory were also more likely to anticipate boundless motivation when passions were found, not anticipating possible difficulties (Study 4). Moreover, when engaging in a new interest became difficult, interest flagged significantly more for people induced to hold a fixed than a growth theory of interest (Study 5). Urging people to find their passion may lead them to put all their eggs in one basket but then to drop that basket when it becomes difficult to carry.

Indeed. As a partner in a national consulting practice and then later as global VP in an international practice, recruiting new talent has long been a key part of my professional life.

Sometime in the late 1990s I saw a sudden shift in resumes for kids coming out of college or grad schools with repeated statements as to what that person's passion was. You heard it in the follow-up interviews. Always they managed to squeeze in some sort of statement as to their passion. Some candidates had multiple passions. A few were simply passionate about everything. Mark them as high in neuroticism.

It was as if in the relative blink of an eye, suddenly passion was everywhere. It was, perhaps, the first explicit milestone in a gradual jaundicing of my view of the professional support services such as career coaching, career counseling, resume writing, trainers, etc. All markets with low barriers to entry, non-existent standards, and a complete culture of lemming like fast followers. Whatever the notion of the moment, suddenly everyone would in a flash become a lifelong, indeed, passionate, advocate of that notion. As long as there was money to be made from anxious or desperate professionals.

It was also consistent with the zeitgeist, placing an emphasis on feeling and emotion over reason and evidence. Taking the easy path over the productive, but more difficult path. People who want "social" justice rather than the much harder Justice.

I have long been highly skeptical of passion. Too intemperate. Passions flare and then they pass. Give me someone who is steady, indeed, steadfast. Willing to evolve as circumstances and evidence dictate, but not a flibbertigibbet. I was, and am, even more skeptical of those who blindly follow fads. We all are susceptible to doing so but it is nice to find some reasoned contrarians to leaven the dough.

I think Ikigai is a much better frame for career planning than simplistic passion. It forces you to think and make trade-off decisions rather than simply spouting "I am passionate."

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