B2 – Upper Intermediate
We are frequently faced with what appears to be a very difficult decision when determining what to do with our lives: the passionate route vs. the safe one, but which is best for us in the long run?
Watch the video about the choice between passion and duty.
Discussion Questions:
- What are you passionate about? Would you give up your current job to pursue it? Why or why not?
- Share your thoughts on this statement, “A decade of mixed results on a passion project is inherently less onerous than unspectacular returns for a whole career in a hateful field”.
- Do you tend to go the passionate route or the safe one?
- What is your opinion about pursuing your passion? How about staying on a safe route?
4 replies on “Passion or Duty”
What are you passionate about? Would you give up your current job to pursue it? Why or why not?
In my case, my passion is related to technology and IT, moreover, my job is related to that too so I guess there are no conflicts between passion and duty. Nevertheless, from time to time I think about giving up my job and go to live a simpler life.
Share your thoughts on this statement, “A decade of mixed results on a passion project is inherently less onerous than unspectacular returns for a whole career in a hateful field”.
It’s very interesting how many times people say this kind of statement, like “follow your heart and pursue your dreams”, and then reality gives a hard slap on your face. It’s crystal clear that being on a hateful job is
not the best way to earn your money, but sometimes you have to do it. Also, we have to keep in mind that a job is only that, a job, a way to pay your bills and sustain your lifestyle, so having a hateful job doesn’t mean that you have a miserable life, furthermore, life begins when work ends.
Do you tend to go the passionate route or the safe one?
I’d say that every 4 or 5 years I tend to try other jobs, otherwise, I’d be bored of doing the same things. Although I work on my passion, oftentimes I take risks by trying new challenges.
What is your opinion about pursuing your passion? How about staying on a safe route?
I guess that it’s all bound to the real chances that you have of succeeding in following your passion. For example, if your passion is related to IT, it’s very likely that you’re going to succeed and earn a decent amount of money. On the other hand, if your passion is history, philology or even music, you’re going to spend way more time and
resources to find the right path to your success. Also taking the safe route does not make any sense if you are young enough to take risks.
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What are you passionate about?
I am one of the people mentioned in the video, who unfortunately, does not have a very clear passion. That caused me a lot of doubts when I had to choose what to study at university.
Do you tend to go the passionate route or the safe one?
Normally I would say I follow the safe route. However, I have caught myself not doing so when I had good reason to.
What is your opinion about pursuing your passion? How about staying on a safe route?
It depends a lot on the life situation in which you find yourself in. If for example you have a family to maintain, perhaps your priority is to be able to maintain your family rather than follow your passion. Therefore, you may choose the safe route rather than pursuing your passion. It depends a lot on the economical situation that each one has, there are people who cannot afford to follow their dream if it means losing economic stability.
Well done writing your answers to this lesson’s discussion questions.
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