Passion is a valuable aspect of everyone’s lives and varies from person to person. For some, it’s a hobby or a career, and for others, it’s a person or a place. From famous artists to athletes, it embodies all fields and all forms. But is it enough? Passions can ignite and move life in many unseen ways. The ability to brew a connection and a deep bond with an individual’s person or work is when it becomes more than just a passion.
“Starving artist” is a term coined by many who have the passion but lack the means to fully pursue their dreams. Is passion enough to make one successful? Money has always been one of the biggest prerequisites for actually pursuing dreams, as it provides the groundwork and the resource. Additionally, the internal fear of not having money is becoming more and more apparent now in this day and age, to the point that some abandon the idea of following their passions. For many others, this can also be seen as abandoning the comfort of a stable life or sacrificing stability in order to dedicate more time and focus to their craft.
Vincent Van Gogh, a famous painter, was not always so beloved and revered. As of now, however, decades after his passing, his art and legacy live on through the eyes of many artists and people all across the globe. At the time, being a painter was frowned upon as a career; even his parents opposed it. Due to his unpopular choice, he was seen as a failure in society at the time. However, his family’s opposition and societal judgment never stopped him from following his passion as an artist. In many ways, passions can help individuals overcome challenges and roadblocks that life throws at them. Van Gogh may have never seen his success, but even now, the art he left behind signifies more than what may have been perceived.
Walt Disney, an iconic name synonymous with some of the most recognizable and beloved characters in cinema history, and someone who practically pioneered the animation industry, saw many hurdles in life before rising to fame. Jumpstarting his career by drawing cartoons for his high school newspaper, Disney established his first company in 1923. This proved to be a difficult task, as his company went bankrupt in its first month, with him losing the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit in 1927. Through this happening, though, Disney was able to create a mascot that would go on to define his studio and his dreams: Mickey Mouse and his introduction in an animated short titled Steamboat Willie. Disney was able to use his hurdles as stepping stones because of his passion for animation. His dream to inspire and engage people all across the globe with unique storytelling and charming characters flourished in a way never seen before, all because he never decided to give up.
Self-doubt can be defined as either insecurity or hesitation towards one’s own abilities and worth as a person. It’s a feeling everyone is familiar with, as well as a constant wall that many face when trying to achieve their goals. It can be scary to go down an unfamiliar path and to diverge from a traditional path to pursue one’s passions. Diverging from the traditional path and exploring uncharted, perhaps risky, territory is a daunting step to take. In a modern society that is indifferent to creativity and the arts and favors a more linear structure, many who pursue the arts feel pressured to pursue a more conventional, predetermined path. The fear of instability, whether financially or due to the lack of creative outlets, is powerful and real. However, there are ways to obtain that security and also pursue our passion; we don’t always need to choose a different path.
A passion isn’t a guarantee of success; on its own, it was never enough. But that doesn’t mean passions can’t drive people to work harder. Passions add purpose to life; without them, it would be difficult to feel encouraged to do anything. While it can be intimidating to forge a new path, that shouldn’t stop us from doing what we love. To be passionate or to have a passion is to give your life purpose, and in and of itself, it provides the means of fulfilment and agency regardless of how you implement it. The question is, are you brave enough to take that step?
