Imagine a world where work felt like play.
Where you were no longer numbing your mind working for someone you hate, but instead expanding your mind by following your creative pursuits.
Do you think a world like this exists?
More importantly, do you think this world exists for you?
It does, even if you don’t know it yet.
I know how hard it is to find things you’re passionate about (trust me, I’ve been there).
But I’d be lying if I said passion wasn’t the precursor, and ultimate driver, towards a better life.
Searching for the things you love, and having the guts to pursue them, is the most important commitment you will ever make.
They say the magic you’re looking for is in the work you’re avoiding.
But I think the magic you’re looking for is in the work you don’t even know exists yet.
Let me tell you how to find it.
Using Specific Knowledge To Forge A Better Life
“If it entertains you now but will bore you someday, it’s a distraction, keep looking.”
Naval Ravikant
I recently read The Almanack of Naval Ravikant (great book, highly recommend) and the term ‘specific knowledge’ stuck with me.
Specific knowledge is found by exploring what genuinely excites you, not by jumping on the latest bandwagon or chasing the job/industry that’s making the most money right now.
Naval says this is the key to making work feel like play.
“If you’re not 100 percent into it, somebody else who is 100 percent into it will outperform you. And they won’t just outperform you by a little bit – they’ll outperform you by a lot.”
You will never produce your best creative work until you’ve experienced what it’s like to work from a place of passion.
I’ve been writing for almost a decade now as a journalist and in the marketing industry.
This is the first time in my life where I’m genuinely excited to write… isn’t the crazy?
My blog and newsletter both feel like play for me, writing them is the highlight of my week.
That’s because my writing is finally aligned with my beliefs and creative pursuits.
I’m using specific knowledge that I’ve obtained by solving problems and reaching goals in my own life.
Problems and goals that are unique to me, but are relevant to you, too.
That’s the answer.
But How Do You Find What You’re Passionate About?
“Most enjoyable activities are not natural; they demand an effort that initially one is reluctant to make. But once the interaction starts to provide feedback to the person’s skills, it usually begins to be intrinsically rewarding.”
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi – Flow
This is the tough one.
I’m sure there are many of you reading this who agree with what I’ve said throughout the article, but are still trying figure out what the hell you’re passionate about.
I don’t believe passion is something that just comes along unexpectedly.
I think it can be forced… somewhat.
The level of enjoyment we get out of something is usually tied to the reward that accompanies that activity.
When I used to write as a journalist, I would cover topics I didn’t really care about.
I would get paid the same wage every week, no matter how well or how poorly I wrote.
And I was never really challenged.
Is there any wonder I struggled to find passion in this work?
Let’s compare this with my writing now…
I’m writing about things that have changed, and are currently changing, my life.
I’m writing about things that may change your life (I hope).
And I’m pursuing goals that, when I achieve them, will mean I never have to work a 9-5 office job again.
I’m performing the same task, but I’m doing it in a way that aligns with my values and goals (and the potential rewards are far greater).
Of course, the task you choose needs to have some sort of real-world value.
But social media and the internet means pretty much anything you can think of has real-world value these days.
Don’t believe me?
You can stream yourself playing your favourite video game.
You can record yourself trying to lift a large log every day until you can finally achieve it (this is real).
You can make millions selling your bath water (this is also real).
Hell, you can even just say ‘hawk tuah’ into a microphone and be set up for life (I know you know this is real).
“You can go on the internet, and you can find your audience. And you can build a business, and create a product, and build wealth, and make people happy just uniquely expressing yourself through the internet.”
Naval Ravikant
Even if that audience just wants your bath water.
The Importance of Dopamine & Boredom
Back on a serious note to end, I’ve got to touch on the importance of dopamine and boredom in this whole process.
The reason I was unable to find something I was ‘passionate’ about for so long was because of my regular indulgence in cheap dopamine and instant gratification.
How could I be passionate about writing when I could jump on my PlayStation and play my favourite game instead?
Almost every work-related passion-filled activity that will put you into a flow state will initially feel less enjoyable than scrolling on TikTok, playing your favourite video game or watching Netflix.
This is all part of the process.
If you regularly indulge in these activities, meaning your dopamine levels are constantly spiking and crashing, then it will be much more difficult to find passion elsewhere.
This is why intentionally making yourself bored is so important.
Your mind will always gravitate towards the most stimulating thing in the room.
If you’re locked in a room for three hours with your mind, a PlayStation, and a book, you’ll play the PlayStation.
If you’re locked in a room for three hours with your mind and a book, you’ll read the book (because who the hell wants to sit with their mind?)
Set up your environment in a way that makes it easier to choose the less stimulating activity.
If you want new ideas and passions to come to the forefront of your mind, you need to allow the space for them to come into fruition.
“If you are interested in something, you will focus on it, and if you focus attention on anything, it is likely that you will become interested in it. Many of the things we find interesting are not so by nature, but because we took the trouble of paying attention to them.”
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi – Flow
Give your mind time to rest.
Go for walks in nature.
Sit in silence.
You’ll be surprised what your mind can do when you let it think.