If You No Longer Feel Passion for Programming, It Might Never Have Existed

This is a very hot take, just like my man ThePrimeagen would say. So, let’s dive into it: what is passion?

Cambridge defines passion as an extreme interest in or wish for doing something.

But let me ask you AGAIN: why would you have an EXTREME interest in or wish for DOING something? The answer is simple. It’s because it brings you some kind of benefit. And these benefits can be anything we imagine or have experienced, such as:

• Feeling relieved after solving a problem
• Becoming smarter or stronger
• Gaining new knowledge
• Boosting your confidence
• Having projects to showcase your skills
• Rising to the top in your field or job
• Finding a job

As you grow older or achieve these goals, the benefits you seek might shift:

• Acquiring material things
• Planning future vacations
• Accessing better healthcare
• Paying off debts
• Working from home
• Improving your quality of life
• Just being employed
• Preparing for retirement
• Starting your own business

We all have different dreams and expectations. But remember, your passion for programming was driven by the benefits you gained. It’s perfectly okay to find a new passion. Look at Zuckerberg—he’s a different person now. He went from being seen as a profit-driven "robot lizard" selling a Wii version of the metaverse to someone who’s now giving away $10 billion worth of AI models for open source and BJJ gold medalist in a tournament. Now he's happier and more human than ever. Like him, you need to find new benefits in things that may later become the thing we call "passion", but you have to endure a period of struggle first.

So, if you notice CEOs and managers who work non-stop and seem baffled that you’re not as enthusiastic, it’s because they’re getting or are going to get huge benefits. This is not passion; otherwise, they'd give all the money to their employees and work for free. To be fair to them, they paid the cost to be there, just as you are doing for your own career, which is effort and time.

Everyone is unique. Some people are okay with certain jobs while others aren't. If you’re feeling unhappy or unmotivated, it might be because your benefits are no longer aligning with where you are, and you’re not willing to pay the cost of where you want to be.

What should I do?

When a customer is unhappy with a service, they look for a new place. Think of your career in the same way: it might be time for a promotion, a raise, a new job, new project, new culture or a new hobby outside of work. Maybe you need something more adventurous. Always seek the next challenge, but be aware that there’s a cost involved. Don’t be afraid to pay it, but make sure you’re in a position to afford it.

P.S.:

And if you find you’re lacking passion in life, it could be due to overstimulation. The fix is straightforward: take a step back and remove what’s overstimulating you. Don’t fight it. As a runner and hiker, I can tell you that stepping away takes more brains and effort. Be smart about your battles; use that energy to make a plan that helps you get to where you want to be, but always remember that there is a price to pay for that benefit, and that's the fun part.