Why “Find Your Passion” Is the Wrong Advice — And What Actually Works

At SahaVero, we work with people in transition—periods of life where everything feels uncertain, raw, or disconnected. Many of our clients are in recovery from substance use. Others are emerging from depressive episodes, family ruptures, major breakups, or seasons of emotional shutdown. They’ve made it through something—but they don’t yet feel like they’ve landed on the other side.

In these moments, advice like “just find your passion” feels less helpful and more disorienting. What if you don’t know what lights you up? What if you’re just trying to get your feet back under you? What if everything feels like it’s too much?

The truth is: passion doesn’t strike like lightning. It’s not a mystery to solve—it’s something you build.

What the Research Actually Says

Studies in cognitive and career psychology show that people rarely “discover” their passion in one clear moment. Instead, they develop it through mastery, autonomy, and meaningful progress (Ryan & Deci, 2000).

Psychologist Angela Duckworth has written extensively on how grit—defined as passion and sustained perseverance toward long-term goals—plays a greater role in success than raw talent or initial excitement (Duckworth et al., 2007).

In addition, research by Paul O’Keefe, Carol Dweck, and Gregory Walton suggests that people who believe passions are developed over time (rather than discovered) are more likely to stay engaged, be resilient, and try new things—even when it’s hard (O’Keefe et al., 2018).

At SahaVero, we apply this evidence directly. We don’t ask, “What’s your passion?” We ask:

• What do you value?

• What do you find yourself returning to?

• What are you curious about—even if you’re not confident in it yet?

Then, we structure a strategy around consistent effort, reflection, and real-world engagement. The goal isn’t to find your path. It’s to build one—and then walk it.

Why This Matters

When someone is emotionally raw or coming out of a hard season, they don’t need vague inspiration. They need scaffolding—the psychological kind. Structure. Support. Strategic direction. They need someone to walk beside them as they sort through the noise and rediscover who they are.

We’ve seen it over and over again: the young adult who doesn’t know where to start. The person in recovery who feels like life is a blank slate they’re too afraid to draw on. The individual who can’t name what they want—but knows this can’t be it.

They don’t need a spark.

They need traction.

What We Believe

At SahaVero, we use evidence-backed methods to guide that process. We borrow from behavior science, performance psychology, and coaching models that actually work. But at the core, our work is deeply human.

We help people build direction—step by step, with honesty, structure, and accountability.

Because passion isn’t something you find, it’s something you create.

References

• Duckworth, A. L., Peterson, C., Matthews, M. D., & Kelly, D. R. (2007). Grit: Perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92(6), 1087–1101.

• O’Keefe, P. A., Dweck, C. S., & Walton, G. M. (2018). Implicit theories of interest: Finding your passion or developing it? Psychological Science, 29(10), 1653–1664.

• Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American Psychologist, 55(1), 68–78.