I am a writer, and writing is not my passion.
It seems weird to say that writing is not my passion. Especially since I am a full-time writer! But that’s true: Writing is not my passion.
That’s because true passion is a very rare thing. It doesn’t come easy, and it certainly is not exclusive or everlasting.
Translation: It’s hard to find a passion. You can be passionate about more than one thing. And, you can develop new passions (or forget old ones) as the time goes by.
I used to think that writing is my passion. But later on, I realised that what really gave me joy wasn't writing itself, but the sense of creative ownership that writing provided. Once I had learnt that, I soon discovered that other forms of expression — design in particular — gave me a similar sense of content and happiness.
So don't get attached to the act itself, rather be attached to the underlying principles.
Steve Jobs is a great example. He wanted to build beautiful stuff. So he started Apple. Then he got thrown out of his own company. So he started Pixar.
Now making computers/electronics is way different from making animation films. Then how come Steve just gave up on his dream of building computers? Was the Mac not his passion?
Answer: No, it wasn’t.
His passion was building beautiful stuff. As long as he was making products that are beautiful, and well made, and of the highest quality in their field, Steve Jobs was satisfied. It didn’t matter what he made, so long as he made them better than everyone else.
Steve’s passion was making beauty.
So, by all means, look for something that makes you happy. But then don’t just stop there. Go a step further. Find out why is it that makes you happy. And then go another step further and find out other things like that that give you a similar joy.