Why Passion Outperforms Motivation
Musings on a Bedtime Scribble
Last night, I drew a quick Bedtime Scribble that quoted this lyric of mine.
"Passion is more reliable than motivation."
After I posted it, I started thinking about what keeps me going, even when motivation declines.
I felt like I could have said more. This is what I got from the altar.
Passion is the result of an internal equation. It grows out of your values and interests. Even when the circumstances feel crappy, passion magnifies our sense of purpose.
Motivation is mostly influenced by the external. Its fleeting, conditional, and unreliable. It grows out of our connection to incentives and the promise of rewards.
Passion sustains us when shit inevitably gets difficult, because it’s connected to our deeper identity. It reminds us of who we are when the outside world stops making sense.
Motivation shrinks when it encounters setbacks. It thrives on the highs but abandons us when we hit those low points.
Passion is the scaffolding of good habits and reliable systems because the commitment comes naturally. We don’t have to wait for the perfect moment or the right mood. The connection to the work is magnetic.
Motivation is great for short bursts of action and effort, but it’s almost always followed by burnout or anxious stagnation, because it’s connected to temporary emotions.
Passion doesn’t care much about specific outcomes because it loves the process. Fulfillment comes from engaging in the act, and access to the flow state is the reward.
Motivation is hyper focused on results. It can only see the destination so the journey becomes a blur. It favors the tunnel vision of a straight line over the meandering path.
I think it’s important for us to stay focused on the love, but how do we do that when motivation fades?
These are my notes to self.
Find Your Flow. Identify the activities that help you lose track of time and bring you joy, even during those seasons of turbulence and uncertainty
Build Your Scaffolding. Use that passion to create systems and daily habits that don’t depend on motivation and external circumstances.
Stoke the Flames. When the light gets dim, revisit your “why” and lean into the deeper purpose of the work.
I don’t always feel motivated to write, make art, or tend to the garden, but I do have a passionate connection to these works. And that connection is what I rely on.
It’s more than what I do, it’s who I am.
If you have some suggestions on how to stay aligned with what you love, leave me a comment so I can add it to my toolkit.
I appreciate you taking the time to read this newsletter, and for joining me in my creative frolicking experiment.
Enjoy this day.
I find following creatives like your self helps me stay aligned with what you love. Seeing others practicing publicly helps spark that for me. Like even when I see people (especially older folks running) it inspires me to keep going. Keep building. Practice. Chop wood, carry water, be in that flow so to speak. I appreciate the short reads too because it doesn’t allow you get stuck on here like YouTube or instagram might, you can read some inspiration and then get to work.
Staying focused is a big challenge. Even at this stage in life where my phone never rings and nobody is ever knocking on my door. I still find myself slacking on my passions and I know it has a lot to do with work and home. I get my new apartment on the 17th and I am sure I will be back on track again. My job isn't stressful, the view of humanity is taxing. Once I have my own space again, I know I will have the order and peace that feels my motivation. I've been writing about projected and selected reality. I believe one rewards while the other distracts. While operating in selected reality mode, I often find myself allowing non essential narratives to pass me by. I find if I remain silent when I am persuaded to speak, the universe rewards me.
Peace Uncle Shredded Wheat