Comments on: Yes, you can be too passionate about your job

By: Ann Wilson

Ann Wilson — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 02:11:44 +0000

As a psychologist and careers consultant, I see passion as a double edged sword , with many of my clients wounded from it. Some twenty or so years ago, it was find your inner child : now it is, find your passion.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 22:29:56 +0000

I was always told: ‘Love your work, and you’ll never work a day in your life’, or something along the lines of that. But nowadays, I question that saying. I agree, we grow up worrying what we want to be when we grow up, when instead we should be valuing the time we have with family and friends. It is great to have the motivation and care to complete your job, but your passions should lie outside of work.

By: Kersty

Kersty — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 21:32:26 +0000

Especially risky in the caring professions, IMO, because care is deeply linked to family of origin. So this presents risks to the organisation in guiding behaviour/outcomes (worker knows best, this job is part of the fabric of who they are), also risky for the employee as it satisfies a deep unconscious need, so they make less than rational financial decisions, open to exploitation low pay, poor conditions etc.

By: Paul Hoppenbrouwer

Paul Hoppenbrouwer — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 15:18:02 +0000

This is actually very true and feels like a trap I have personally fallen into more than once. That said, balancing that passion for the profession and the job against interests outside of work is a lot easier said than done and I’m not sure I have mastered it totally, yet….and some employers definitely take advantage of it!