Why Following Your Passion Might Be the Worst Advice—Unless You Read This Gita Verse
Shivika Gupta | Apr 24, 2025, 15:50 IST
The Passion Trap—And What the Gita Says About It.“Follow your passion” sounds inspiring—until you’re passionate, broke, lost, and exhausted.We’ve glamorized passion so much that people feel like failures if they’re not obsessed, fulfilled, and wealthy by 25. But the Bhagavad Gita cuts through the noise with a truth that feels uncomfortable—and deeply freeing: “It is better to do one’s own duty (dharma) imperfectly than to do another’s perfectly.”
Passion is a feeling. Dharma is a calling. Passion can be fleeting. It’s about what excites you. Dharma is about what grounds you—even when it’s hard. You might be passionate about dance, but your dharma might be to teach, to lead, to write, or to raise awareness through movement.
Your dharma might not always sparkle. It may look:
• Unpopular
• Uncertain
• Quiet
• Slow
But if it makes your soul exhale, it’s yours.
The real warning in the Gita is against comparison-driven living.
It’s about this:
• Taking up a job because it looks prestigious
• Copying someone else’s career path because it worked for them
• Chasing what’s trending instead of what’s true
Krishna is saying: You can do what others do perfectly, and still feel personally lost.
“Follow your passion” can become a prison when:
• You don’t feel passionate about anything right now
• You monetize what you love and start hating it
• You compare your passion progress to others’ success
That’s when the Gita’s advice is revolutionary: Don’t chase excitement. Chase alignment.
Try asking:
• What do I feel responsible for in the world?
• What activity gives me peace, even when it’s hard?
• What have I always come back to, even after setbacks?
• What feels natural, but still meaningful?
Dharma doesn’t scream. It whispers. And you feel it when you stop performing and start listening.
“Follow your passion” might make a great Instagram quote.
But when your soul is tired, confused, or lost—don’t reach for hype.
Reach for honesty.
Let your dharma lead.
Let your passion support—not pressure—you.
Because when you’re aligned, even quiet work becomes divine work.
So no—don’t throw your passions away.
But don’t crown them king either.
Instead, ask what your life is asking of you.
Ask what you’re willing to show up for—even when no one claps.
And remember, as the Gita whispers through the chaos:
“It is better to do your own work, even imperfectly, than to perfectly perform someone else’s.”
Because truth beats talent.
Peace beats passion.
And alignment always wins.
Explore the latest trends and tips in Health & Fitness, Travel, Life Hacks, Fashion & Beauty, and Relationships at Times Life!
Dharma Isn’t Always Sexy—But It’s Always Soulful
Path to Stillness.
( Image credit : Times Life Bureau )
Your dharma might not always sparkle. It may look:
• Unpopular
• Uncertain
• Quiet
• Slow
But if it makes your soul exhale, it’s yours.
The Gita Doesn’t Say “Don’t Have Passion”—It Says “Don’t Imitate”
Peace Amidst the Chaos
( Image credit : Times Life Bureau )
The real warning in the Gita is against comparison-driven living.
It’s about this:
• Taking up a job because it looks prestigious
• Copying someone else’s career path because it worked for them
• Chasing what’s trending instead of what’s true
Krishna is saying: You can do what others do perfectly, and still feel personally lost.
When Passion Becomes Pressure
My Life's Road.
( Image credit : Times Life Bureau )
“Follow your passion” can become a prison when:
• You don’t feel passionate about anything right now
• You monetize what you love and start hating it
• You compare your passion progress to others’ success
That’s when the Gita’s advice is revolutionary: Don’t chase excitement. Chase alignment.
How to Find Your Dharma (Not Just Your Passion)
Solitude on a Quiet Beach.
( Image credit : Times Life Bureau )
Try asking:
• What do I feel responsible for in the world?
• What activity gives me peace, even when it’s hard?
• What have I always come back to, even after setbacks?
• What feels natural, but still meaningful?
Dharma doesn’t scream. It whispers. And you feel it when you stop performing and start listening.
Don’t Chase Feelings—Follow Truth
Peaceful in Sunlight.
( Image credit : Times Life Bureau )
“Follow your passion” might make a great Instagram quote.
But when your soul is tired, confused, or lost—don’t reach for hype.
Reach for honesty.
Let your dharma lead.
Let your passion support—not pressure—you.
Because when you’re aligned, even quiet work becomes divine work.
The Most Peaceful Path May Not Be the Loudest One
But don’t crown them king either.
Instead, ask what your life is asking of you.
Ask what you’re willing to show up for—even when no one claps.
And remember, as the Gita whispers through the chaos:
“It is better to do your own work, even imperfectly, than to perfectly perform someone else’s.”
Because truth beats talent.
Peace beats passion.
And alignment always wins.
Explore the latest trends and tips in Health & Fitness, Travel, Life Hacks, Fashion & Beauty, and Relationships at Times Life!