Do What You Love, Despite the Fear

At first, this blog was going to be about following your passion, and then I read this:

http://blogmaverick.com/2012/03/18/dont-follow-your-passion-follow-your-effort/

And then, I stopped to think.

Where does this cycle start?  Which comes first: the passion or the effort?

It seems pretty clear from the article that effort comes first, but really, to start something you have to have a mundane interest in it.

Take for example my thoughts.  I didn’t know what a computer specialist or engineer was.  So, there was no way that I would even know it was something I wanted to do.

Once I stumbled on it… only once it was shown to me… did I decide that it was something worth pursuing.

Am I the greatest at it?  Am I the most adept computer specialist engineer in the entire world?  I would argue to say that I am not.  However, my efforts to be better have nothing to do with whether I’m existingly good or “the best” at it.

That’s where perseverance comes in.  I keep at it.  And yes, with more practice I am getting better.  But, I have not fooled myself into thinking that because I’m not the best that it’s not worth my time or effort.  I think that’s where people often go wrong.

The fear comes in – seeps in – to the skin and the person’s mind becomes disillusioned on the chaos that is insecurity. You begin to wonder, “Was this mine to do to begin with?”  Insecurity is nothing more than fear appearing real to you and setting you on the wrong path to completing your goal.

I’ve stopped to wonder, as I always have, if my fear has prevented me from doing the best things in life.  I almost didn’t go to San Francisco.  I almost didn’t take a job opportunity.  I almost didn’t do an interview, all because of fear.

When it boils down, fear can be a useful subject.  It keeps us out of physical danger, makes us more aware of our surroundings, and demands our focus and things that need our attention.  Otherwise, it seems to only serve the guise of a fool… waiting for you to fail in a self-fulfilling prophecy.

So, doing what you love despite the fear won’t hurt you.  Passion is real and optional.  Keep vigil, and your rewards might not be great, but getting the experience is more than worth it.