Loosely connected, often jumbled class notes on finding individual passion, from David Wiley’s IPT 682 course.
sing!?!
“What are you passionate about?”
How to phrase the question
apply passion in the service of others
What is right livelihood?
Not all of us can be so picky about our careers. Those who can, however, should be constantly evaluating the positive impact our efforts may have on others. Those who can’t must focus on the positive impacts their work may have, mindfully support those positive aspects, and create positive impacts in perhaps different ways–whether that’s in making a co-worker smile, making peace where strife exists, or even providing . Work provides at least one chance for positive impacts on people lives: sustaining our families and creating an environment free of need that supports their physical, intellectual, and even spiritual growth.
We should not dismiss the significance of work as a means of supporting our families. If all you do in your life is raise a family well, that is enough.
This line of thinking contributed to my dropping out of grad studies in English Lit. I have sufficient intellect, good health, and enough power over my life’s path that I found cause to worry about the significance of contributions I might be making to the world. There is distinct relative value to becoming a professor of literature, a path through which I may indoctrinate students toward my chosen career and sustain other practitioners in my field. At best, a professor of literature may make some small impact outside of academia, by providing access to the enlightening power of literature to the public. I think Harold Bloom does this well, but few others.
What are you passionate about?
This is a question both facile and incomprehensible. Facile because I could list off any of a number of projects that I’ve been revved up by in the present or recent past. Incomprehnsible because it implies passion for something. In context of the grant writing activities that this course is mapped against, it implies passion for a certain objective that is addressable through a project. Though I am responsible for several right now, I don’t know how much I believe in projects.
I’ve worked just long enough in this field to finally realize, after not getting the hint for many years, that projects come and go and outcomes are unpredictible. Some passions turn out to be mere trends, others turn out to be a lot of trouble for ought or little impact. The most dependable of projects are those that are not projects–at least, not in the sense of termination or deliverables. These are found in the day-to-day, incremental teaching and learning that happens as I help faculty reach more students through distance education.
what great liberty in lonlieness?
amplifying individuals –> tools and communities
IPT 682 Notes: 9-8-2009
Loosely connected, often jumbled class notes on finding individual passion, from David Wiley’s IPT 682 course.
sing!?!
“What are you passionate about?”
How to phrase the question
apply passion in the service of others
What is right livelihood?
Not all of us can be so picky about our careers. Those who can, however, should be constantly evaluating the positive impact our efforts may have on others. Those who can’t must focus on the positive impacts their work may have, mindfully support those positive aspects, and create positive impacts in perhaps different ways–whether that’s in making a co-worker smile, making peace where strife exists, or even providing . Work provides at least one chance for positive impacts on people lives: sustaining our families and creating an environment free of need that supports their physical, intellectual, and even spiritual growth.
We should not dismiss the significance of work as a means of supporting our families. If all you do in your life is raise a family well, that is enough.
This line of thinking contributed to my dropping out of grad studies in English Lit. I have sufficient intellect, good health, and enough power over my life’s path that I found cause to worry about the significance of contributions I might be making to the world. There is distinct relative value to becoming a professor of literature, a path through which I may indoctrinate students toward my chosen career and sustain other practitioners in my field. At best, a professor of literature may make some small impact outside of academia, by providing access to the enlightening power of literature to the public. I think Harold Bloom does this well, but few others.
What are you passionate about?
This is a question both facile and incomprehensible. Facile because I could list off any of a number of projects that I’ve been revved up by in the present or recent past. Incomprehnsible because it implies passion for something. In context of the grant writing activities that this course is mapped against, it implies passion for a certain objective that is addressable through a project. Though I am responsible for several right now, I don’t know how much I believe in projects.
I’ve worked just long enough in this field to finally realize, after not getting the hint for many years, that projects come and go and outcomes are unpredictible. Some passions turn out to be mere trends, others turn out to be a lot of trouble for ought or little impact. The most dependable of projects are those that are not projects–at least, not in the sense of termination or deliverables. These are found in the day-to-day, incremental teaching and learning that happens as I help faculty reach more students through distance education.
what great liberty in lonlieness?
amplifying individuals –> tools and communities