Everyone said, “Follow your passion, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” They were wrong. Here’s what actually works.

Everyone told me, “Follow your passion, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” It sounded like the ultimate dream—turn what you love into a career, and work will feel effortless.

So, I did. I built a career around what fascinated me most—mindfulness, eastern philosophy, and personal growth. I wrote a book, launched Hack Spirit, and poured myself into sharing insights with others.

But here’s the truth no one tells you: Passion alone isn’t enough. In fact, relying on it can make work feel even harder.

I learned this the hard way. And what actually works? It’s not what you think.

What actually worked

Instead of chasing passion, I focused on something else—building discipline and consistency around what I cared about.

I stopped expecting every day to feel exciting. I treated my work like a craft, something to refine and improve over time, rather than a constant source of inspiration.

Here’s what I did:

• Created a routine that supported deep work, even when I didn’t feel motivated.
• Focused on getting better at my skills instead of waiting for passion to carry me.
• Learnt to separate enjoyment from fulfillment—passion comes and goes, but progress is what keeps you going.

By shifting my mindset, everything changed. And here’s what happened when I did.

How everything changed

At first, it felt dull. Without the rush of passion pushing me forward, I wondered if I was doing something wrong. But then, something unexpected happened.

I got better. A lot better.

Without waiting for inspiration to strike, I showed up every day and did the work. My writing improved. My focus sharpened. The more consistent I became, the easier everything felt—not because I was more passionate, but because I was more skilled.

I also felt less pressure. Passion makes you believe every moment should be exciting. But when I let go of that expectation, I found steady progress much more fulfilling than chasing constant motivation.

And perhaps the most surprising part? I started enjoying my work even more. Not because it was effortless, but because I was actually growing in it.

But I used to believe it would feel completely different. I thought following passion meant work would never feel like work at all.

What I thought it would be like

I used to believe that if I followed my passion, work would always feel exciting. That I’d wake up every day eager to dive in, fueled by inspiration and enthusiasm.

I thought struggle was a sign I was doing something wrong. That if I ever felt drained or unmotivated, it must mean I wasn’t truly passionate enough.

But reality looked very different.

Some days were frustrating. Some tasks felt repetitive. There were moments when I questioned everything. But instead of taking that as a failure, I started seeing it as part of the process.

Passion wasn’t what kept me going—it was persistence. And that changed everything.

So if passion isn’t the key, what is? Here’s what I’ve learned.

What actually makes the difference

Passion is great, but it’s unreliable. It fades. It shifts. And if you depend on it to fuel your work, you’ll struggle the moment it disappears.

What actually makes the difference is showing up—consistently, even when you don’t feel like it.

I stopped chasing excitement and started committing to progress. Instead of waiting to feel inspired, I built habits that kept me moving forward no matter what.

That meant setting a routine and sticking to it. It meant accepting that not every day would feel amazing, but trusting that steady effort would lead to results.

And it did. The more I focused on discipline over motivation, the more I grew. And ironically, the more I grew, the more I enjoyed what I was doing—because progress is what makes work meaningful, not fleeting moments of passion.

So if you’re feeling stuck, wondering why following your passion isn’t making things easier, stop waiting for that spark. Focus on building something sustainable instead.

Taking a step back

It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that work should always feel effortless if you’re passionate enough. But stepping back, I realized this belief doesn’t just apply to careers—it’s how we approach life in general.

We chase excitement, expecting happiness to come from constant motivation. But real fulfillment comes from something deeper:

• Building discipline, even when things feel hard.
• Letting go of the expectation that every moment should be exciting.
• Finding meaning in progress, not just passion.

This shift in mindset doesn’t just change how you work—it changes how you live. When you stop looking for an external spark to push you forward and instead focus on steady growth, everything becomes more sustainable.

If you’re looking for a way to cultivate this mindset further, my book on Buddhist principles explores how detaching from fleeting emotions and focusing on long-term purpose can lead to a more meaningful life.

At the end of the day, passion is fleeting. But commitment, growth, and purpose? Those are what truly make a difference.