Rock bottom isn’t the end

Sometimes passions can be hard to identify, but that’s okay

Olivia Synek / Opinion Editor / The USD Vista

A distraction is different from a leisurely activity. A leisurely activity is different from a hobby, and a hobby is different from a passion. A distraction can be the smallest thing that takes your mind off of something, but it doesn’t have to be enjoyable. A leisurely activity can be something enjoyable, but may not be something that you want to do over and over again. A hobby may be something you enjoy doing over and over again, but not something you have strong feelings about. A passion is when you love to do something so much that you are able to talk and think about it often. It is healthy to have all of the above in your life. They are all pretty attainable, except for a passion. 

Do you have something that gets you out of bed in the morning because you’re so excited about it? Is there something that you cannot wait to talk to your friends about and something you truly feel you could spend a lot of time doing? I know many people who had trouble figuring out that aspect of their life, including myself. 

One particular person was able to help me realize how I should prioritize finding this out for myself. I  am a fan of YouTuber Emma Chamberlain. Unlike other celebrities, I genuinely feel like I relate to her really well. I listen to her podcast called “Anything Goes” whenever I am driving for a long period of time. When I was driving from my home in Northern California to San Diego, I listened to one of her podcast episodes called “rock bottom.” 

In the episode, Chamberlain brought up something that I never really thought about before: once you’ve hit rock bottom, the only way is up from there. She also talked about how she got out of “rock bottom” by honing in on what makes her happiest in life and figuring out what she is most passionate about. She had distractions, leisurely activities, and hobbies, but was still feeling unmotivated and unhappy. 

I won’t spoil the podcast for you, but Chamberlain figured out what her passion was by taking a break from social media. She was surprised to learn that her passion was an activity she used to do a few years back. Chamberlain believed that this activity was too time consuming in her past, but quickly found out that it was what she needed back in her life in order for her to feel motivated and happy. 

Whenever I am especially stressed, I can identify distractions and hobbies that will cure me for the time being. However, I have yet to find a passion. But, I hope that is what college will uncover for me. 

I went through a period over quarantine when I was obsessed with finding out what my passion was. It sounds stupid now, but I tried everything: reading, yoga, cooking, and I even bought an embroidery kit. I got bored from each  of  those  things after a while. I was stumped that I couldn’t find what I was passionate about, but at least I had shortened my list of possibilities. 

Even though many people may be like me, and are eager to learn what they are passionate about, I realized it is something that comes naturally. One cannot “wait for their passion” or “follow their passion” because it is not natural.

I was reading an article by Forbes recently, which mentioned a study done by Stanford University. It read, “…those who follow the fixed mindset are much more likely to give up when obstacles arise.” As the authors said, “Urging people to find their passion may lead them to put all their eggs in one basket, but then to drop that basket when it becomes difficult to carry.” 

If you go out of your way to look for your passion, you are more likely to give up on it. I understand getting bored and tired of distractions, leisurely activities, and hobbies because I experience this boredom every day. But, anyone who is in the same boat as me should know that this boredom is normal and should become less prominent as we become older and wiser. As we go through our life experiences, our passions should arise. 

The Forbes article and the idea of not following a “fixed mindset” does not apply to Chamberlain. She was lucky, if she truly did discover what her passion was, considering she looked for it intentionally.However, there are no concrete “rules” to finding a passion. Whether you are looking for it or letting it find you, it will come eventually. 

What can we do in the meantime? Go through that major, change it if it gets boring, study abroad for a semester, join more organizations on campus, or reduce screen time. Living in the moment can change our lives for the better, but can also cultivate our passions in the future. And if you already have found your passion, I’m jealous.