Summary

The article suggests that to determine if writing is a true passion, one should consider the emotional impact of the hypothetical scenario of never being able to write again.

Abstract

The author of the article shares a personal journey of discovering writing as a passion after exploring various interests. The key to this discovery was asking a profound question: how would one feel if they could never write again due to losing their limbs? This question is posed to provoke a deep emotional response, indicating a genuine passion for writing. The article contrasts this with the commonly asked question of whether one would do something for free, arguing that the former is more effective in revealing true passion. The author emphasizes the importance of this introspection, suggesting that it can quickly clarify one's passion, which is often an elusive and ongoing process of discovery.

Opinions

The author believes that the thought of never writing again should evoke a strong emotional reaction in someone truly passionate about writing.
The article suggests that the question of doing something for free is less effective in identifying passion compared to the extreme scenario of losing the ability to engage in the activity.
It is implied that passion is characterized by an inability to live without a certain activity, rather than just a willingness to do it without pay.
The author's personal experience leads to the opinion that passion can be found by confronting extreme scenarios that force an honest assessment of one's feelings towards an activity.
The article conveys that passion is not merely about enjoyment but about a deep-seated need to engage in a particular pursuit.

One Big Question To Ask Yourself To See If Writing Is For You

If someone cut off your…

I sat downstairs in my grandma’s basement.

It’s time to figure this out. Once and for all.

For five years, I went from an aspiring secret service agent, to a music producer who can’t use Garage Band, to a math-be-damned chemist, to…

A writer.

Long story short, I finally found my passion. It seemed like a long 5-year journey, but in all honesty, all I really had to do was ask myself one question. One question that got rid of all my doubts and confusion.

What’s that question you might ask?

If someone cut off your limbs right now and you couldn’t write ever again, how would you feel?

Ask yourself the rock-hard questions first.

As soon as I asked that extreme question, well, I teared up.

The thought of never being able to pick up a pencil or type my feelings on a canvas for the world to see made me sick — it terrified me.

It’s something I can’t live without. And that’s how I knew I found my passion.

Questions like that are questions you should ask yourself when you can’t find your passion.

If you’re thinking about becoming a musician, ask yourself how you’d feel if you couldn’t play a single note of Mozart’s Sonata ever again. If you’re thinking about becoming a football player, ask yourself how you’d feel if you couldn’t make a 30-yard sprint to a touchdown ever again. If you’re thinking about becoming a scientist, ask yourself how you’d feel if you couldn’t pick up a test tube ever again.

If you don’t have a visceral reaction, maybe that path isn’t for you.

Here’s why the “Would you do it for free?” question doesn’t work.

Well, that’s too easy of a question to ask.

It’s easy for anyone who doesn’t know their passion to say they’d do something for free. Heck, if I wanted to be a world-class chef, I’d cook for free too (I already cook my own meals).

Cooking is apart of everyday life. So is writing. Isn’t writing all of those painfully researched essays in college technically writing for free?

Now I’m not saying this is a bad question. I know what it’s getting at. For me, I’d be willing to write a lot for free for the rest of my life. This isn’t the case for most people, and that’s the separator. How long and how much you’re willing to do it for free.

That question doesn’t get into the nitty-gritty as quickly as the one mentioned previously. Let me repeat it for the people in the back.

“If someone cut off your arms and legs and you couldn’t [blank] ever again, how would you feel?”

This question puts you in the hot seat. It’s an urgent question that forces you to decide now or forever hold your peace.

Final Thought

Deciding your passion is something you’ll never fully figure out.

It comes down to a lot of things, but nothing’s ever set in stone.

If you want to rip off the bandaid and find out as soon as possible if something is your passion, start by asking yourself that question.

It’s not about what we can live with, it’s about what we can’t live without.

That’s what makes a passion a passion.