Author Topic: Stop Searching For Your Passion  (Read 7711 times)

bryan

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Stop Searching For Your Passion
« on: April 06, 2016, 12:49:57 pm »
Just watched this short Ted talk and it was really appropriate for me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MBaFL7sCb8&index=1&list=LL9mvsi7mnNANWXd-mXOQZkQ

A lot of times, I feel bound to find/capture that "one singular" passion, even though that sort of thing is a lie, and in most cases, very unhealthy.  Western culture is especially guilty of this, I think. We reward and idolize people with these singular pursuits (at the expense of everything else in their lives).  Who cares if the person is a terrible human being if the movie/music/art they make is wonderful? Who cares if they still live in their parents' basement if they know how to tweak Serum just right and spend 18 hours a day doing just that?  Who cares if the person is unhappy and unfulfilled and depressed...the music they're making sounds great!

I tend to see other people's lives, whether it's celebrities or even friends of mine in town, as better than they actually are. It's as if I see their lives through rose-colored glasses.  I idealize their lives, their marriages, their careers..  but the reality is we're all struggling. We're all imperfect. There is no perfect marriage, perfect life, or perfect passion.  There are warts and periods of uninspiration and our creative lives (and lives as a whole) are characterized by the struggle..the perseverance.

I suppose there's beauty in this.  Trials build character and serve as the makeup for our composition as human beings. It's precisely our imperfections that make us human.  So let's do ourselves a favor: Be nice to ourselves and enjoy the ride.

Quote
Passion is not a job a sport or a hobby. It is the full force of your attention and energy that you give to what is right in front of you.

Lydian

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Re: Stop Searching For Your Passion
« Reply #1 on: April 06, 2016, 02:10:04 pm »
Quote
We reward and idolize people with these singular pursuits (at the expense of everything else in their lives).  Who cares if the person is a terrible human being if the movie/music/art they make is wonderful? Who cares if they still live in their parents' basement if they know how to tweak Serum just right and spend 18 hours a day doing just that?  Who cares if the person is unhappy and unfulfilled and depressed...the music they're making sounds great!

This is why I try to be very selfish when I write music. The way that I see it is that 99% of the people in this world will never give a crap about the music I write and the other 1% could care less about me personally. Why should I write music to please them?  The music that I write is primarily for me and if I like it then I can trust that other people will like it as well. That's the only way I can justify "tweaking serum for 18 hours" and etc...

This is a phrase from economics that I think is highly applicable to the situation.

"When individuals act in their self-interest, they go to work and buy things because
it makes them happy.  But by working and purchases things, they are also contributing to society and the social interest."
« Last Edit: April 06, 2016, 02:12:06 pm by Lydian »
A young 14 year old me with a really bad haircut. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eMbftWV75w

joyzu

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Re: Stop Searching For Your Passion
« Reply #2 on: April 06, 2016, 08:36:50 pm »
Hmm. this was an interesting view. Thanks for this insight.

bryan

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Re: Stop Searching For Your Passion
« Reply #3 on: April 08, 2016, 12:36:01 pm »
It reminds me of one poignant moment in this interview with deadmau5, where Joel talks about how he doesn't have developed social skills and he seems to get a little emotional.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zeb3dGbhvTM

I guess the point is it's not always rainbows and butterflies, and sometimes "excellence" or "success" comes at a cost.

Lydian

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Re: Stop Searching For Your Passion
« Reply #4 on: April 10, 2016, 08:50:45 pm »
Pretty interesting interview.

Success or excellence in any field wouldn't be possible without thousands of hours of practice. Yes it's unfortunate that Joel doesn't have developed social skills.
A young 14 year old me with a really bad haircut. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eMbftWV75w

Astroreign

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Re: Stop Searching For Your Passion
« Reply #5 on: April 11, 2016, 08:01:24 am »
Who cares if the person is unhappy and unfulfilled and depressed...the music they're making sounds great!

The feels. I'll feel good like 1-2 days a week and the rest are just me thinking about how even if my music took off I still wouldn't be satisfied with it.