[Marblesy]

I was at a job interview recently, and one of the questions was "What motivates you? What gets you out of bed every morning?" I couldn't exactly say "Nothing" or "I don't know" so I just made up some answer about "school" and "learning new things" (I hate school though). Then they followed up by asking "Do you have a passion?" and I stopped and realized no, I don't have one.

I used to have one, but it makes me feel nothing now. There is nothing extremely exciting to me. Is this normal? Does everyone have a passion? (Please don't tell me that I'll find it soon, I don't think I will).

[Skeezyks]

Well... no… I personally don't think everyone has a passion. In fact, I'd venture to say only a few lucky people ever really develop a passion for something. Most of us just kind-of slog through life putting one foot in front of the other day-after-day. So my inclination would be to say, in that sense, you're probably more like the average person than not. But, of course, if depression is something you struggle with, then that's certainly going to contribute to you not being able to find anything you feel passionate about too.

Your post does bring up a good point with regard to job interviewing though. Successful job interviewing is a skill you can develop. And the more you do it, the better you can get at it. Most interviewers tend to ask similar questions. And so it's worthwhile to think about how you would answer questions, such as the ones you've mentioned in your post, before you get into an interview situation. Then, when the interviewer tosses out a question such as "what gets you out of bed in the morning", you're ready with a snappy answer! It doesn't really even matter if it's really true. What the interviewer is really interested in is how you handle the question, not what your particular passion might be.

So, after each interview you go to, think about the questions you were asked & how you replied. Were you prepared with a positive response or did the question catch you off guard? If it caught you off guard, spend some time thinking about how you might answer that question more effectively should it be asked again during subsequent interviews. Chances are, if one interviewer thought to ask it, you'll be asked a similar question again.

[WishfulThinker66]

I do (kayaking and art) but I doubt that every person does. I am unsure why. Maybe they just haven't been exposed to the right thing yet.

[healingme4me]

I wouldn't feel bad about needing to stop and think about that line of questioning. Gosh, I'd probably make some snarky comment about coffee and money

[*Laurie*]

Yes, I have passions for more things than I can count. Music, art, literature, nature, love...so many things! But then they tell me that my extreme passions are an aspect of my bipolar disorder. I'm still confused about that.

[SparkySmart]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

Yes, I have passions for more things than I can count. Music, art, literature, nature, love...so many things! But then they tell me that my extreme passions are an aspect of my bipolar disorder. I'm still confused about that.

I think that attributing passions to a disorder is just...sad. Maybe you've been blessed with above-average intelligence and sensitivity to beauty? Perhaps you won't write the next symphony, but if there weren't audiences to appreciate and support the arts, there would be no orchestra.

Hasn't everything we value been driven by passion? Who's to say how much is pathological? Life is challenging enough to navigate without denying or medicating inspiration. Not only is excitement about something fulfilling, it's infectious.

I was reading a psychiatrists' message board recently, and more than one agreed that it would be a revelation to observe a true case of mania because it's "exceedingly rare." They agreed that it existed (who could deny it?), but that, as professionals, they were way too quick to pathologize emotional intensity. Nobody can prove that the writers of these comments are who they say they are (although supposedly they have to present their credentials to the website owner prior to posting), or that they're qualified to make this observation, but this is...disturbing to me.

[SparkySmart]

Originally Posted by Skeezyks

What the interviewer is really interested in is how you handle the question, not what your particular passion might be.

How true, Skeezyks. For me, the #1 hardest question to answer is, "Do you have any questions for me?" Whoops. "Uhhh, not really, except, uhhh, that I really want the job because... uhhh..." Awkward.

After I had been at one job for three years, and developed a good working relationship with my manager, I asked him if he cared how I had answered interview questions. "Nah," he said. "I just wanted to see how your mind worked, how quickly you could improvise."

I have a nephew graduating from college in a month. He can't find his passion, either. "Yeah, that's okay," my brother told him. "Sometimes a job is just a job, and you're going to get a job regardless."

[possum220]

Passion? Nope unless it's around here some place hiding under a rock.

I was always the type who had great passions, but they have changed over the years. Some lasted quite a while, though.

It saddens me that some of my old passions have sort of died. It's almost like losing a little bit of my old self. My most recent passion was writing in my blog. I wrote about all kinds of things. Lately, however, that passion has faded. I'm not particularly passionate about anything right now. For me, however, I believe that will change. I have bipolar disorder and mood upswings usually bring passions, new or resurrected old. They often continue into stability, but not always.

If an interviewer asked me about my passions, I'd mention the ones that were most significant in my past. I'd know how to talk about them.

Originally Posted by Marblesy

I was at a job interview recently, and one of the questions was "What motivates you? What gets you out of bed every morning?" I couldn't exactly say "Nothing" or "I don't know" so I just made up some answer about "school" and "learning new things" (I hate school though). Then they followed up by asking "Do you have a passion?" and I stopped and realized no, I don't have one.

I used to have one, but it makes me feel nothing now. There is nothing extremely exciting to me. Is this normal? Does everyone have a passion? (Please don't tell me that I'll find it soon, I don't think I will).

if that question was asked of me, I'd probably say

" listening to music"

and then they'd be like- but you can listen to music in bed

me" well I can't sleep, so it's better to be up then to just lay their in darkness, right?"

I have no idea what motivates me apart from those 2 things- the imsomnia, and the music

for the record, who's ever heard of imsomnia motivating someone?

some days (most days) my days are so boring, that even going to the bathroom is a big acheevement and something to motivate me