Money

The Myth of Passion: Why Loving Your Job Isn’t the Point

We’ve been told to “do what you love” so many times it’s practically career gospel. But what if that advice has quietly made us miserable? The truth: you don’t need to love your job for it to be meaningful—or even sustainable. Here’s why chasing passion might actually be holding you back.

1. Passion Is a Moving Target

Passion isn’t permanent—it’s a feeling that shifts with time, energy, and burnout levels. You might adore your job one year and dread it the next, and that’s not failure—it’s evolution. The myth assumes passion is a destination; in reality, it’s a variable. The healthiest careers adapt to that, not fight it.

2. Not Every Hobby Should Pay Rent

Turning what you love into what you do changes your relationship with it. When creativity becomes currency, joy becomes output. Many people burn out not because they stop loving the work—but because it stops feeling like theirs. It’s okay to keep some passions sacred.

3. Meaning > Passion

You don’t have to wake up “excited” every day to have a good career. What people actually crave is purpose—the sense that what they do matters or aligns with their values. Meaning sustains you when motivation fades. Passion burns hot; purpose burns long.

4. The Labor of Love Trap

The “do what you love” mindset can be exploitative. It convinces people—especially in creative and care-driven industries—to accept underpayment or overwork because “it’s a dream job.” Love doesn’t pay rent. Your time and labor still deserve boundaries, even if your work feels fulfilling.

5. You Don’t Need a Dream Job—Just a Decent One

There’s freedom in letting go of the fantasy. A good job doesn’t have to define you—it just has to support a life that does. Passion can live in your weekends, your side projects, or your relationships. The less pressure you put on work to complete you, the more space you have to actually live.