Sep. 13, 2024
Read time: 3 minutes and 43 seconds.
tags:We all want to find work that feels exciting and meaningful, and some have the chance to always have work to do just that, while others may not ever experience it. rIt’s rare to find something that fuels you with both passion and purpose. But when you do, you can get into a state of “flow” where work feels effortless and incredibly rewarding. There’s actually reviews suggesting that people have been observed to experience phenomological changes in their body enough to their neurochemistry to be more productive, less distracted and happier
Passion can be a powerful motivator, but it can also burn out quickly. I think if you ever have the opportunity to find purpose, then pursue that purpose because I think it burns way longer than passion. Purpose provides a deeper, more sustainable source of energy. Purpose gives you a “why” behind your work while passion might be a motivator and guide for finding purpose. Purposeful work can keep you going even when things get tough. I mean, passion can truly be useful as a vehicle, but it’s rare that it can persist for nearly as long as the work in which you find purpose.
When you combine passion with purpose, you can enter a state of “flow.” Flow is the optimal experience in which your body and mind are totally absorbed deeply by what you’re doing, beyond the point of distraction. It’s as if time slow and your senses become heightened. Flow state unlocks incredible efficiency and productivity all while accomplishing things quicker. It’s something that fully involves a person in their task without distraction and reduces the need for external stimulus; an immersed state. I had felt an experience like this in university at times and within my professional career as I would take on new tasks and roles for jobs I found cool because they could teach me a lot and the benefits/rewards were learning and achievement. Kind of like your life becoming a video game.
For me, I’ve found this powerful combination in teaching. Sharing knowledge, especially technical skills, and seeing students grasp new concepts is incredibly fulfilling. I’ve had the experience of sharing a new found skill or idea with others where it’s fallen on deaf ears. I definitely would not lose enthusiasm, but the experience had a tendency to be so draining when the same energy you put into something wasn’t reciprocated. As an instructor, throughout the short time I’ve been teaching, there’s something so rewarding about someone grasping an idea or concept. As someone begins to understand and they develop a look of understanding in their face. You see their eyes come life and glaze over as if they’re undergoing a divine experience. Seeing this expression is what I most enjoy, with students, with my work, with sharing, with teaching. And nobody, and I mean nobody can take that away. Truly few can give you that as well.
Seeing the “light bulb” moment in students is a huge reward.
Empowering others with knowledge creates lasting impact and serves as it’s own strange motivator. Not because it’s some type of “bragging rights”.
“Yeah, I taught them that.” Smirks 😏
No.
It’s because i’m being understood. I know that what they were struggling with they now understand and could make use of what was shared.
It’s not always clear what will spark your passion and purpose. The key is to experiment and try new things. I mean, I had no idea I would enjoy teaching, but being able to experiment in my waking life allowed me to live this first hand and see how something new could possibly be a source of joy or a way for me to learn and develop. It’s funny that I was looking for a way to push and create product, but now i’m finding something that’s been incredibly rewarding through experimenting and aiming to upskill myself.
Keeping my eyes open i’ve noticed that it’s sometimes an exhausting experience, but one that energizes me all at the same time. A new opportunity in teaching that has breathed new life into my person and permits me to continue living a fulfilled and complete life.
I definitely want to continue pushing product and solving problems, but I’m also excited about helping others with their interest in solving broad problems for themselves, their employers and doing so efficiently.
The intersection of passion and purpose is a journey more than a destination, but it’s worth pursuing. When you find that sweet spot, you can undergo something truly transformative that few have the opportunity to experience, and even fewer who keep experiencing this indefinitely. Keep learning, keep exploring, and find what keeps you “in the zone”.
If you haven’t already, I highly recommend you check out the book, by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi called “Flow”.