Work with passion takes less brain energy

One of the things I often say as I talk about career passion is that, for so many people, going to work is about getting up and heading out for another day of being who they're not. It's wearing a mask, day in and day out. And that sucks a lot of energy out of you.

I've long known that to be true, both from personal experience and countless conversations with others. This morning I ran across a tidbit in a Psychology Today article that reinforces that from a scientific perspective.

One of the characteristics of finding that passion path is a state of "flow," that place where you get absorbed with what you're doing and time seems to fly by. It's not 100% of the time, of course, but it happens much more than when you're in a grinding, clock-watching, mask-wearing job.

According to the article:

Neurological studies of people in flow show that the brain expends less energy than when they are wrestling with a problem. One reason seems to be that the parts of the brain most relevant for the task at hand are most active, and those that are irrelevant are relatively quiet. By contrast, when one is in a state of anxiety or confusion, there is no such distinction in activity levels between parts of the brain.

My definition of passion is, "The energy that comes from bringing more of YOU into what you do." It comes from work that is based on what you are naturally drawn to, and the gifts and skills you most enjoy using. It's basically being who you are. Part of how that energy shows up is that feeling of flow.

On the other hand, when you spend your whole day trying to be who you're not, shoving yourself into work that doesn't really fit, it brings with it an inherent underlying state of anxiety or confusion.

--

Curt Rosengren, Passion Catalyst (sm)

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Comments

[Phil Gerbyshak]

This is a great point Curt. The more you love something, the easier it is to do. No wonder we're so enthused by that which we love, and so drained by that which we dread doing. Thanks for being you and sharing your love with all of us!

[OregonMoney]

Curt, I was thinking about this on the way home from work today. While others consider me a superstar (and somedays I really do feel the passion), I realize that I don't have to perform "to my best" each and every day to outshine my co-workers. It has drained me just to keep up this "average" life. Thanks for keeping us going and in perspective.

[Hiren Shah]

This is absolutely true. In our film Industry we have an octogenarian actor, Dev Anand who despite is age is full of beans. On being asked the secret he said," Nothing can give you a high as your own work"
Dale Carnegie has written in "How to stop worrying and start living" that at the end of eight hours it the brain has as many active toxins as in the beginning. It is our emotions that make us tired. Yoga is a good way to be energetic but the wrong occupation for 10 hours will nullify the effect of one hour of yoga in the morning.
Previous conditioning also matters- If you have been in the wrong job and are coming in the right one, then you will feel even more energetic as you will appreciate it more and take it for granted.The great inventor, Thomas Edison sums it up best when he says" I never worked in my life. It was all fun" despite putting in 18 hour workdays.