Follow Your Bliss
assion. It’s something we keep hearing about. A lot of people say that they’re passionate (myself included). But are we really? How do we cultivate passion? Where does it spring from?
I’ve been thinking a lot on passion lately. I consider myself a passionate bloke, I’ve always felt deeply for the things I believe in (like our profession). But I’m not entirely sure why – it just seems to happen.
I’ve noticed passion coming up again and again with successful people. They believe in something passionately and they go the extra yard for that passion. They are helped along the path to success because they’ve got passion to drive them.
Passion seems to stem from having a deep interest in a subject. While I’m passionate about our industry, this didn’t just happen the day I enrolled in my PR course. It’s grown alongside years of learning, thinking, reading and writing on the topic.
At the end of my recent Forward Podcast with Peter Himler, he left some telling advice for young PR’s. Peter’s advice was that you can do PR for any industry or subject, so why not take the opportunity to do PR in an area you are passionate about? Find an area that you have a strong interest in outside of PR, and try to work in PR within that industry.
It’s solid advice, and it makes a lot of sense. Follow your interests, if you’re working in a field that you’ve got a strong interest in, you’ll enjoy your work more. If you’re enjoying your work more, you’ll surely perform better.
My thinking on this topic has also recently been informed by the famed American thinker Joseph Campbell. Campbell was a scholar of comparative mythology, most famous for his ‘The Power of Myth’ series of conversations with journalist Bill Moyers.
I’ve found his writing enlightening and inspiring. He covers a myriad range of issues, all informed by a deep knowledge base gathered from years of self-guided reading. His thoughts on passion (‘following your bliss’) resonate particularly deeply with me.
Campbell’s thoughts on life are that you should find the things that make you truly, deeply happy – and follow them no matter what.
It’s best to quote Campbell, as I can’t do his words justice:
- After overhearing a man in a restaurant saying ‘I’ve never done a thing I wanted to in all my life’
“You may have success in life, but then just think of it – what kind of life was it? What good was it – you’ve never done anything you wanted to do in all your life. I always tell my students, go where your body and soul want to go. When you have the feeling, then stay with it, and don’t let anyone throw you off.”
- On being yourself:
“The world is full of people who have stopped listening to themselves or have listened only to their neighbors to learn what they ought to do, how they ought to behave, and what the values are that they should be living for.”
- On following your passions:
“If you follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. When you can see that, you begin to meet people who are in the field of your bliss, and they open the doors to you. I say, follow your bliss and don’t be afraid, and doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be.”
The lesson to be learned here seems to be loud and clear to me. Whatever it is you do with your life, try to follow your interests. Avoid making decisions because they are what you ‘should’ do, or they’re what your family tells you to do, or for the almighty dollar.
Follow your interests and cultivate your passions. If you’re doing what you love – success will surely follow.
What’s your bliss?
Comment by Paloma Cruz — June 6, 2006 @ 11:28 pm
Here’s a further explanation, from the Joseph Campbell Foundation.
Joseph Campbell was a life-long student and teacher of the human spirit and mythology–not just the mythology of cultures long dead, but of living myth, as it made itself known in the work of modern artists and philosophers–individuals who searched within themselves and their societies to identify the need about which they were passionate. He called this burning need that they sought to fulfill their bliss.
Yet it is important to note that following one’s bliss, as Campbell saw it, isn’t merely a matter of doing whatever you like, and certainly not doing simply as you are told. It is a matter of identifying that pursuit which you are truly passionate about and attempting to give yourself absolutely to it. In so doing, you will find your fullest potential and serve your community to the greatest possible extent.
Comment by Paull Young — June 6, 2006 @ 11:50 pm
Paull, thanks for this. It was just what I needed this morning as I have an interview later today for a marketing position that I would love. I’ve been having a tough time with whether or not to pursue a new job at this point, since I’m a new employee at a consulting firm and I’m finding that I made a huge mistake taking this position. Everyone I know thinks I should stick it out for a couple of years, but my gut is telling me to find something I love NOW - life is too short to waste two years of my life being miserable! This was good inspiration to stop feeling guilty for wanting to quit so soon. I’m not doing anyone any favours by staying in a job I hate, and I think a person can get away with quitting after a very short time once or twice in their careers if it’s for the right reasons.
Thanks again!
Comment by Laura — June 7, 2006 @ 11:04 am
Laura,
I’m glad I could pass on some words to help!
It sounds to me like you’re doing the right thing, it’d be great if you could hit us back here and let us know how your interview went today.
Comment by Paull Young — June 7, 2006 @ 6:18 pm
Your post is excellent and really stimulating. But, how do you follow your bliss when you already have a family to love and protect? I mean: What if I know I love writing but I must make money now in my job for a living? Take into account that I live in Argentina…
Regards from Buenos Aires.
Comment by Ignacio — June 7, 2006 @ 7:09 pm
Ignacio,
I think that Campbell’s point on following your bliss means that you need to look within yourself and make your own decisions.
Your bliss doesn’t have to be professional! In fact, I’d think finding it within your family would be all the more valuable.
Comment by Paull Young — June 8, 2006 @ 12:50 am
Great post! The idea of following your passions or your desires is not a new topic in any corner of the world. I realize that people have heard this message over and over again, but yet I look around me and see miserable people everywhere. I can’t help but wonder what went wrong on their course of following their desires. I particularly notice men, maybe because I am one. I notice men that wear their suit and tie and do their 9-5 (more like 7-7) and then come home to their tv and bed and then repeat the process day in and day out. They are seemingly not contributing anything to the betterment of themselves or the world. So I can’t help but wonder what went wrong. Where did the passion go? I often thank people that have jobs that I would absolutely hate because I’m so happy that somebody enjoys the things that I hate. I have a friend that handles all financial matters for a small non-profit and she loves it. I thank her at least once a week for enjoying that because her love for the “boring” stuff frees me up to enjoy the things I enjoy about my job. I could get long winded here because when anyone starts talking about following desires and driving towards passion I really get fired up…I love it. I’ve written many papers on the topic and had many more conversations about it with other people in different settings. I guess pushing people to follow their passions is something I’m passionate about. I’m also passionate about many other things. I sort of have a mental “life checklist.” A list of things I want to accomplish in my life. There is a wide variety of things on that list, which I probably won’t share in the public forum. I guess you’ll just have to watch my life and know that everytime something cool happens I’m checking things off my list. Thanks for the post, i enjoyed it.
Comment by Jonathan — June 8, 2006 @ 2:47 pm
[…] 00:14: Paull introduces the podcast 02:01: Ease of producing a professional podcast 08:04: The effect podcasting will have on public relations practice 09:48: Podcasting can be controlled, settles in a ‘comfort-zone’ for companies interested in new media 12:13: How to integrate a podcast into an overall communication strategy and the importance of journalistic quality content 18:34: Why PR students and new practitioners should learn about podcasting 20:30: How young PR’s can learn about podcasting 24:47: Phil shares some general advice for young PR’s – follow what you’re passionate about, follow your bliss, ‘so much of life is figuring out what you don’t want to do with your life’ […]
Pingback by Forward Blog » Blog Archive » Forward Podcast #6 :: An Interview with Phil Gomes — July 17, 2006 @ 4:25 pm
[…] I’ve recently given notice at work, and I’m planning to follow my bliss and embark on a world-wide blogging tour. […]
Pingback by Young PR » Blog Archive » The Big Blog World Tour — September 6, 2006 @ 5:39 am
What a wonderful post to read to start my morning! I have heard before about ‘following your bliss’ and I think it the safest philosophy to live by…. after all, if you fail doing something you wanted to do, the risk was worth it because you haven’t spent time confirming you’re doing something you’d prefer not to.
Go after that bliss!!
Comment by Emma Cantwell — September 6, 2006 @ 5:36 pm
[…] Follow your bliss. What is it that excites you? What are you passionate about? Find that course and follow it no matter what. If you’re truly passionate in what you do success will surely follow. […]
Pingback by Young PR » Blog Archive » 5 Tips for Being a Great PR Consultant — November 9, 2006 @ 5:13 am
After many years of self-reflection and soul searching, I came across a saying that I though I had created. After reading a passage from a book by Depak Chopra, I remembered thinking that I must focus on this “bliss” that he had described. It was then that I wrote the words, ‘Follow your bliss’, on a 3″X 5″ index card which is kept in plain site to view on a daily basis.
Now today, I see that a famous philosopher,Joseph Campbell, had used that quote in his teachings.
Follow that bliss!
Comment by Mike Soper — January 13, 2007 @ 8:20 pm
“Follow your bliss and doors will open up where walls now exist.” I started questioning where my life was heading, when at age 54, my secure, stable, planned world caved in around me and I found myself on a road I would never voluntarily choose for myself–the road to prison. At about the same time, probably because of the questioning that began within me, I discovered that therein lies bliss for me. My passion in this life had always been to serve, but erroneous decisions had somehow led me to serve myself and distracted me from serving others where my true bliss lies. I know that I need to celebrate what has come into my life–that I will be going to prison and that I will be marked forever with the brand of ex-offender. I will be learning and living in a new culture which has been gifted to me. Somehow this has to do with how I am to serve the world. Right now I can’t see the future, only the step directly in front of me–but I know this is a good thing that is happening to me. I realize now that the old me was dead already but I did not realize it. This was God’s way of intervening to set me on the correct track which I had fallen off of. This was the only way that God could get my attention to get the truth across to me. I praise Him that he valued me so much that He decided to intervene. I would appreciate someone who has had a similar experience to share with me how it all figured in to accomplish good. I’m wide awake now and I am certain good things will come out of this of such a high caliber that will astound me. Tell me how you were astounded by your experience. How did you grow? How did you serve society with the knowledge gifted to you?
Comment by Allie Morales — March 9, 2007 @ 4:03 am
While I enjoyed your post, The question I have is this: I know what my passion is, now what? I have a son in college a mortgage and other responisbilities. HOw do I go about making my bliss my life?
I have volunteered for charities my whole life. The time for volunteer work is over. I have a deep need to be of service to Aids torn Africa and have volunteered for several charities. HOw do I contiue to be of help and keep my home?
Comment by Darla — July 8, 2007 @ 8:35 pm
[…] Follow Your Bliss […]
Pingback by Follow your Passions. « Growing Pains. — July 30, 2007 @ 10:29 am
WOW! Such inspirational comments. I feel I am currently on a journey to find out what I am made of. Every day, my desire gets stronger and stronger to truly follow my passion of helping others and working in a non for profit setting. I have both a college & university education in Marketing which I question everyday why I choose this path. Brainstorming ideas every day, selling things to people they do not need, & making it my monthly goal to hit a budget so that our company can have company parties with an open bar is certainly the opposite of how I feel this life is meant to be lived. I do work with some great people, but to be honest, many of them seem so miserable and it is as if they are locked into this job for life! Whether your passion is to make greeting cards, follow the money (inside joke), or help people; whatever it may be I truly believe that we cannot grow as individuals if we are NOT living our passion. The most common excuse is that if we do something that is not standard in society like going to your 9-5 cubicle and pretending to be content, we are judged for NOT WANTING TO CONFORM! I think the power lies in being able to have confidence in how you feel about what really makes you happy, regardless of society’s views. It certainly will not happen overnight, but it is the mentality of doing, and not wishing that will help get us there! Thanks for all the comments & I am certainly on the right path to finding my bliss!
Comment by Corinne — March 29, 2008 @ 12:02 pm
[…] I feel so damn lucky that I want to share the good oil, and my advice is simple: Find your passion and follow your bliss. Don’t turn around, you’ll know it when you find it. […]
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