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Ask HN: How did you find your passion?

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Re: Ask HN: How did you find your passion?

#71

Post by is_true »

Nostradedamus wrote: post #56
tmaly wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sometimes a low stress job is ideal for the opportunity to create.

But high stress can do some amazing things to your brain. And immediately when I found this out I use it at my advantage. For years I worked on my project with results like "a step forward, two steps behind". So I quit my job with only a few thousands $$ and put as much stress on my "system". I found my "eureka moment" a few days before I ran out of $$. They call this the survival instinct.

Stress usually comes with health issues. Be careful

Re: Ask HN: How did you find your passion?

#72

Post by sgdread »

auntad wrote: post #18

As some commenters have alluded to anecdotally, there's science behind the idea that "follow your passion" is bad advice. So it's not something you find, but rather something you build. There are probably very many things that could become your passion(s) if you build them. I'm still working on building mine. I've found at least one (coding) that fits into the picture somehow, being that I've been doing it since I wa…

There is another great book written by Cal: Deep Work [1].

Don't follow your passion. Instead, become really good at something. Apply methodical approach to improve your craft skills. Once you got mastery, you might actually like it.

[1] https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Work-Focused-Success-Distracted/...

edit: formatting

Re: Ask HN: How did you find your passion?

#73

Post by Djvacto »

mrfusion wrote: post #46
ryanmercer wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel you. Food production is a big one with me right now and I've been drastically reducing the animal products in my diet and switching to less processed foods (black beans have become my staple). I find writing can help manage it a bit, in fact I just finished a piece on food production and indoor farming https://www.ryanmercer.com/ryansthoughts/2018/7/8/tackling-t...

What are some good things to do with black beans?

Peruvian Black Beans with Rice & Aji sauce (Yellow or Green Sauce) is delicious and inspired by a local place I ate at a few times.

Black Bean burgers/patties are great.

I like making tacos with the refried beans (mashed or not).

You can also use black beans in 'stir-fries'! I'm actually trying to decide what typical Asian sauce to try it with next. Maybe General Tso's?

Re: Ask HN: How did you find your passion?

#74

Post by projektir »

sgdread wrote: post #72
auntad wrote: post #18

As some commenters have alluded to anecdotally, there's science behind the idea that "follow your passion" is bad advice. So it's not something you find, but rather something you build. There are probably very many things that could become your passion(s) if you build them. I'm still working on building mine. I've found at least one (coding) that fits into the picture somehow, being that I've been doing it since I wa…

There is another great book written by Cal: Deep Work [1]. Don't follow your passion. Instead, become really good at something. Apply methodical approach to improve your craft skills. Once you got mastery, you might actually like it. [1] https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Work-Focused-Success-Distracted/... edit: formatting

> Don't follow your passion. Instead, become really good at something.

The important question always seems to be: at what?

You can't pick a lot of things because mastery takes years, and if you picked something you're unsuited for, you've just wasted a lot of time.

This just doesn't seem like a high value proposition.

Re: Ask HN: How did you find your passion?

#76

Post by zapperdapper »

sgdread wrote: post #72
auntad wrote: post #18

As some commenters have alluded to anecdotally, there's science behind the idea that "follow your passion" is bad advice. So it's not something you find, but rather something you build. There are probably very many things that could become your passion(s) if you build them. I'm still working on building mine. I've found at least one (coding) that fits into the picture somehow, being that I've been doing it since I wa…

There is another great book written by Cal: Deep Work [1]. Don't follow your passion. Instead, become really good at something. Apply methodical approach to improve your craft skills. Once you got mastery, you might actually like it. [1] https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Work-Focused-Success-Distracted/... edit: formatting

I've read the book. I actually disagree with Cal on the that one for the simple reason you can be really, really good at something and not passionate about it.

I think there's a trick here though - get really good at something and then use that to make someone else's life better - now that is something you can probably get passionate about.

This whole passion debate will run and run though - I don't think anyone really has the definitive solution - it will be different for different people.

Re: Ask HN: How did you find your passion?

#77

Post by p0d »

I wished upon a star.

Joking asides, I think a better question to pursue is how to find contentment. One key for me has been learning to live for today and not worrying too much about tomorrow.

A friend just received more money than she could have ever imagined. Sadly it was an insurance payout after the untimely death of her young husband. I know what she would rather have.

Keep reading, learing and making plans but don’t get too hung up on what you think is missing and enjoy the now.

Re: Ask HN: How did you find your passion?

#78

Post by t3h2mas »

PascLeRasc wrote: post #58
nscalf wrote: post #39

After years of hearing people I respected on podcasts talking about how Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is one of the most dominant fighting sports, a smaller guy can beat a bigger guy, etc... I hear a philosopher I like talk about how it is the most thoughtful and complex practices he does. He says he's like an addict who is carefully maneuvering around injuries to practice it for the rest of his life. I decide I'll give it a s…

Do you still lift? I'm pretty into weightlifting and I'd like to add a martial art and BJJ looks like the best fit for me, but I don't want to lose muscle definition.

Continue to lift. Eat protein. Your TDEE might go up if you lift the same amount and add BJJ on top. If recovery becomes an issue hit the usual sleep, hydrate, eat, stretch points.

Most of what I've read about muscle loss is that it happens when you eat at a deficit or don't hit your protein targets.

This video talks about the creators experience balancing BJJ w/ lifting. https://www.reddit.com/r/weightroom/comments/6o8ubw/balancin...

Edit: personally I switched to a 5/3/1 variant for athletes, but plan on going back to a higher volume program soon, after some weight loss.

Re: Ask HN: How did you find your passion?

#79

Post by parallel_item »

My friends think its passion, but really I just forced the medicine down until it became habit, then a permanent fixture, and now is familiar and relaxing. I love learning new things but the "passion" idea is really just me exploring the nuanced depths of a topic I now know a lot about, and that seems to be fulfilling enough that it can masquerade as "passion" to outsiders.

Re: Ask HN: How did you find your passion?

#80

Post by rafiki6 »

Define passion. Your better off understanding your fundamental drives beyond basic primal urges. Is it money? It is power? Is it helping others? Is it praise from others?

My own personal experience is this. I did engineering, then worked in various parts of the hardware/software stack and found myself in finance. I have no real interest in finance, but much more in economics. I love economics. I have this deep desire to understand why we do the things we do and why the world works the way it does today

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