Why You Still Need Passion For Your Career (Even When The Economy Sucks)

Passion gets a bad rap, especially when the economy is shaky and job prospects are tougher. Many people think that pursuing passion is mere dreaming—idealistic and perhaps selfish or irresponsible. The Atlantic argues, however, that passion is exactly what’s needed at these times.

Photo by Adrian Scottow.

Did you know that passion originally meant suffering? When you have passion for something, it is a part of you, something that inspires and drives you to act.

Sometimes, however, people will caution you to repress that passion, seeing it as a romantic notion that lacks seriousness and level-headedness. Yet, if passion is an innate fire that drives you towards a specific purpose or pursuit, then, as the Atlantic writes:

Passion is not a luxury that needs to be jettisoned in tough economic times. It is the most essential force a person can bring to a challenging job market … not only because we tend to do our best when we’re passionate about what we’re doing, but also because passion is what inspires a person to keep pushing to find a way forward, no matter how tough the circumstances.

To persevere, in other words, especially in tough times, don’t discount the value of passion.

The Value of Following Passion in a Jobless World [The Atlantic]