Random Thoughts

Passion and motivation are not the same thing

   This is one of the topics approached by most people and it’s interesting to see why. Tom Bilyeu said that most people ask him how to find their passion so I guess it’s a pretty interesting thing. What’s more interesting is that the people who ask this feel they need more in their lives. They feel that they are not doing what they were created to do and this can be very depressing.

   Right now it’s 11:08 PM and after I’m done with this post, I need to write my 1000 words on my book which will take 2-3 hours. And I need to get up at 6 AM to get to work (I have an unrelated daily job). Is it passion that drives me to do this? Is it motivation? One year ago I was learning web design programming because I thought that’s what I wanted to do in life and I did it for about 4 months and I stayed each day until 12 – 1 AM. That couldn’t be also passion, could it? Does motivation come from passion? It’s probably a mix-up.

   I believe that this is a tricky subject because with the right motivation we can go through hell to achieve what we want, but we might hate what we’re doing. We might be passionate about what we’re doing, but without the right motivation, we might not find the reason to do it. Mel Robbins says that motivation is garbage because it comes and goes and it doesn’t stay long. She also says that our brain tries to trick us into not doing things because we might get hurt. I think that this is also related to the homeostatic balance.

   In my opinion, passion and motivation are two different things. Passion is the how and motivation is the why. For example, I am passionate about cooking, but I only do it for my family because I have no reason do be a chef or something like that. I think that sometimes the passion itself can be the motivation as well and motivation can bring some sort of passion. I love my family and I want to provide the best for them and this drives me to do whatever it takes. So motivation drives me through my daily job and passion drives me through my “writing job”. I love writing so this is my passion and I think I can make a living out of it some day when I’m good enough so it is my motivation as well. My daily job is ok so I’m not passionate about it, but I need the money for me and my family and that’s my motivation.

   Doing what we love (passion) brings joy into our daily lives so it is important for us to find it whilst motivation is what drives us through the day. Sometimes those two aspects can be represented by one thing, but I think that we need both for our life to be closer to ideal.

   What’s your passion and what’s your motivation?

89 thoughts on “Passion and motivation are not the same thing”

  1. I agree with you. Passion and motivation are related in many cases, but they are separate things. I have a passion for photography. So, I am motivated to take pictures and learn more about composition. I am also passionate about by 9 to 5 job – being a prosecuting attorney. However, because I do it all day everyday M – F (and some nights and weekends), I sometimes lack the motivation to avoid procrastination.

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  2. Passion and motivation could be two separate entities but it could be interrelated one way or another. I’m passionate about writing and my prime motivation is to improve my skill. I am passionate about my career which is being a doctor and I am motivated to learn more in order to become a better doctor.
    In every aspect, I think the passion is always there. It’s just the motivation that comes and goes since it is fickle. I think burn out and lack of inspiration could be one of the many reasons of why we loose track of passion.

    Reply

    1. Yes, it can be. But when you have a job you hate, there is nothing passionate about it. Only a small dose of motivation is what keeps you waking up in the morning (of course, there are bills, mortgage and things like that that provide the required push to go forward). So yeah, sometimes they can interact and other times they can be two different things.

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      1. I think its simply human nature to dream and to be passionate but reality eventually sets in(all the bills need to bepaid) and that is what brings us back to reality.
        Your blog really gave me a lot to think about. Thank you for your thoughts. It gave me new perspective at things.

      2. Thank you for taking your time to read! Bringing new perspective is my goal with this blog so it’s very nice to see that it does it! 😀

  3. My passion is writing for sure. My motivation is helping my fiancee work on this rental property that I hate so we have a proper place to live.

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  4. Thanks, I enjoyed this post! My thoughts exactly!

    My passion is TEACHING both through the spoken word and the written word because I am motivated to share knowledge (the what), understanding (the why), and wisdom (the when and how) with others.

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  6. It all comes under the heading of following ones dreams of living life… life is an adventure and rather than spending my time analyzing myself, I just follow that dream, being led by an open heart.. 🙂

    “The great beauty of life is its mystery, the inability to know what course our life will take, and diligently work to transmute into our final form based upon a lifetime of constant discovery and enterprising effort. Accepting the unknown and unknowable eliminates regret.” Kilroy J. Oldster

    Reply

      1. That I am…. 🙂

        “ The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own, no apologies or excuses.. No one to lean on, rely on or blame.. The gift is yours, it is an amazing journey, and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. This is the day your life really begins.” Bob Moawad

  7. I love how you explained it. My passion is nature/landscape photography and writing. It lifts me, and brings peace to my spirit. Working a job, like you said, is the motivation to help take care of my family. And days like today, I need to remember my motivation.

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  10. It’s an interesting topic, I’m not sure my passion ever stays the same for long, but it’s always related to self-expression and communication (writing, music, art). But my motivation is always connecting with other human beings on a deeper level – that never changes.

    Reply

      1. I guess it must be. I think there’s an honesty in art that few people are truly able to convey in other ways. And when we recognise ourselves in someone else’s art, that can be really powerful.

  11. “our brain tries to trick us into not doing things because we might get hurt”
    Well now some things are making much more sense for me!

    Thank you for this post 🙂

    Reply

    1. It’s probably both. I wrote it with the idea of working on our goals so it’s both how and what, but not the why. Does it make sense?

      Reply

  13. I have a passion for writing, my motivation is to see it sell possibly on the big screen. I don’t know about you but there are days that I’m so tired, that I don’t glance at my tablet. But I know it’s from lack of sleep, so I’ll catch up enough to give me energy to think straight and get back at it. But passion and motivation are what are giving me the drive to accomplish this goal

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  21. I would call passion ..a temporary thing because that’s how it’s supposed to be. The adrenaline rush is supposed to last for a while. Beyond that it can be unhealthy.. whereas motivation is present until the target is reached

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    1. As you said, we need the motivation to be present until the target is reached. Too bad it doesn’t happen all the time.

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  26. I enjoyed reading your article. I think passion and motivation are two sides of a coin. And the combination leads to success.

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  29. I think your connection of passion with joy and motivation with drive are spot on. If I’m passionate about something I’ll do it for the sake of doing it but if I’m motivated I tend to have an end goal in mind.

    Reply

    1. Thank you for taking your time to read and to share your thoughts! In my opinion, we need to know how to differentiate between the two so we can have a better understanding of ourselves. If we know where to look, we can realize what we need to improve.

      Reply
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  33. Thank you for this article & Happy New Year! Well from my point of view and how I see it and feel it, when I’m working or doing something I hate, It’s not motivation that drives me, it’s just necessity…For me motivation must be positive and happy…When I remember my feeling each time waking up each day for work or doing some things that I have to do, I remember “laziness” “tiredness” “zero interest” and lot of effort has to be made.
    But I certainly can lose motivation for things I love some days and I need some reason to do them… So here motivation sounds positive and happy but I guess motivation always comes from outside, from people we care about and want to impress, fear of failure or society, etc.…. while passion comes from inside, we can’t control it or stop it, even if we bury it for some time, it will come out eventually. When I have passion for something, I don’t need any motivation to do it, I just do it with love and joy but I just need to work hard sometimes to make it happen and this is what most people give up on after they are drowned in their daily routine and stress and looking out for other people…
    For me motivation always comes from people I love or want to impress or want to help and support. For this sake I’m ready to do anything.
    My passion besides “writing” is for helping people and changing their life for the best in some very far point in this world and for mutual love as well.

    Reply

      1. Thank you for your reply! Well it could and it is I guess for most of people but I have chosen personally to separate it from motivation because when I think “motivation”, I feel happier to do things…that’s it 🙂

  35. My passion is for helping others with their passion! My motivation is not being broke hahaha lol..So when I think about my financial security, I believe that is enough to keep me motivated.

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  36. I struggle with figuring out what my passion is. I believe it has something to do with helping people figure out their why. I believe we should all live life fulfilling what we’re destined to do. Not what we need to do. We all need to work, and making a living but we also need to live. We need to enjoy the things that matter most to us. We’re so busy making other people our responsibility we forget to put ourselves first.

    I want to help people get out of this mindset that the only way we’ll make it in life is if we follow the social norms and conditioning that we were taught when we were younger. I don’t know what I’m passionate about but all I know is it involves helping people.

    But I really enjoyed this post. It really has me thinking now. I realize that there are other people out there who are looking for a purpose and wanting to follow their passions. I am not alone. That’s very reassuring!

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  37. Great post, made me review my thoughts. I would say I feel my passion is my what. What do I love to do and the motivation is why. Creating the balance of “if your following your true passion, you will find your why and be motivated to do it.

    Reply
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