The Death of Passion

I went to business school.  I watched all those interviews with famous CEO’s telling MBA grads what it takes to be successful.  One thing in particular seems to be a recurring theme.  People who are successful in life follow their passions.  Or better yet, people who have a passion for the things that they do seem to be more successful.

How does this relate to student loans?

Exorbitant student loan debt has killed my passion.  I was just thinking the only real passion I seem to have left is the hatred for student loan debt (or at least that’s how it feels in the “down” moments; like right now).

They have turned me into a pessimist.  Pessimists are not successful, and even the rare one or two who become successful don’t have the ability to see how great it is.

You went to school (or are going to school) because you wanted to be successful, but the very thing that is helping you pay for school will contribute to your lack of success.  Your money will go to pay the interest.  Your motivation will decay like your finances when you don’t even have enough extra money to make interest only payments.  Your personal life will be stressed and suffer because of financial stress.  Everything you’re going to school for is obliterated by the financial turmoil that awaits.

Beware of the death grip of student loans and don’t let them kill your passion.  They are like a sack of bricks tied to a drowning sailor’s ankles.  All of the money you spent learning to swim won’t do you any good now that you are sinking with the debt.

On that depressing note, I’d like to switch to an uplifting hope that I have learned that eases the stress caused by the mounting debt.  Here are some ways to get your passion back to life.

Focus on Helping Others

The first thing to do when you are in a depressed rut is get the focus off of yourself and start thinking about others.  Get out and help someone.  Find someone with a bigger problem than your own and contribute to helping them.  If finances are your biggest worry then you are lucky.  Some people have sick family, others are in hostile environments, and still others are in potentially deadly situations.  Focus on helping those with greater needs than your own and your financial problems will be put into proper perspective.

Ignore Your Loan Problems

Stop trying to solve the problem of your debt constantly.  While it’s good to search for solutions and long term strategies to lower your loan burden, it’s also good to take a moment every once and a while and forget about your problems.  One study finds that a wandering mind is an unhappy mind (CBS News).  Letting your mind constantly wander towards the negative possibilities in your life like student loans is a source of stress.  It also takes up the thought processes that may be focused on other passions.  Focus on the day to day activities and your passion may find time to be reignited.

Vent, Complain, and Tell Your Story

As mother used to always say, “Don’t hold it all in.”  Keeping your frustrations bottled up is not a good way to live.  Talk to someone about your problems and complain to those who are nice enough to listen.  You might be surprised to learn you aren’t the only one going through rough times.

All three of these methods of re-igniting passion are goals of this website.  You can contribute here by sharing your story, venting your frustrations, helping those who are entering into the same mistakes you made, and more.  The simplest form would be commenting on, or sharing this and other articles.  Those elite few of you who are more burdened to help can register and share your own stories.