I wrote the following to someone and couldn’t help sharing it here.

There’s a common belief that passions are something you find. Like if you just turn over enough rocks you’ll find yours. It’s a nice fantasy and excuse for people who haven’t achieved much to explain why they haven’t and others have: “Well, I could do as much as so-and-so if I had found my passion. When I do I will. In the meantime, I just have to wait to find it.”

I disagree with that belief with every ounce of my being.

I’ve found you can find interests and things you like. Passions, you create. You get out of your activities what you put into them. Usually to create a passion you have to go past the barriers that stop most people.

Most people don’t pursue things they like enough to make them passions and they live passionless existences. I used to live like that, waiting for things to come to me without effort.

I’m never going back to that life again.

Instead, I love what I do. I don’t know anyone who puts more effort into things they love more than I do. And those who put in similar efforts I’m honored to call friends. I don’t have time for people who don’t have time to develop themselves. I wish them the best in their lives despite our different values.

It took time and effort to transition from where I said things exactly like you to this, but it was worth it.

I’ve found few things in life that returned more value.

• ← To start a habit, focus on emotions
• See me at Stand Up For Passion, March 3 in New York! →