Passion

Following your bliss might not be the road to happiness.

“Mediocrity exists so that the passionate can excel.”

Sean Cobb

Passion in Stages, original artwork by David Marlow ©2023

Audio narration by David Marlow

Definition.

Passion: (n)

pas·sion /ˈpaSHən/

1. A strong and intense enthusiasm, desire, or love for something.

2. A thing arousing enthusiasm.

The Proto-Indo-European root meanings are "to care, desire, love" and '“to breathe’ as in to have life or become alive.

The many original meanings all have to do with strong emotions ranging from suffering to sexual desire and everything in between.

Source Google Ngram

Risk

Passion can involve love as well as suffering. Pursuing passions and the "follow your passion" directive can inadvertently create undue pressure and unrealistic expectations.

It implies a singular, all-encompassing passion, which can induce anxiety. This is especially true for those with varied interests or those yet to identify a definitive passion.

Overemphasis on passion can precipitate burnout. The compulsion to transform one's passion into full-time employment may lead to protracted work hours and sacrifices in work-life harmony, ultimately resulting in exhaustion and disenchantment.

Interests and passions are subject to evolution over time. What ignites one's passion may not hold the same allure in five or ten years. Rigidly adhering to a solitary passion may constrain personal growth and leaves little space for new interests.

Not all passions are suitable for pursuing as careers and by itself, does not always translate into the requisite skill or expertise.

A passion for something doesn't mean you are good at it or ever will be good at it.

Pursuing a career or endeavor solely predicated on passion, sans the concurrent development of necessary skills, can be a source of frustration and setbacks.

Opportunity🌀

Imagine a life where enthusiasm fuels your actions and the pursuit of your deepest interests infuses every moment with purpose and joy. That’s what a proper approach to following our passions can provide.

I've previously mentioned my passion for savoring good coffee, not selling it or running a store. Passion is more than making a living; it's about enriching life's quality.

In pursuing our passions, we often unearth hidden interests and talents, discovering new dimensions of ourselves through exploration.

While pursuing our passions is about more than our careers, we spend much of our life at work. We need passion to come into play there as well.

Exploring and developing our passions can lead to careers that align with our enthusiasms, transforming our interests into livelihoods.

Even if it doesn't chart a career path, this pursuit can kindle a passion for our current work, infusing it with renewed purpose, enthusiasm, and fulfillment.

By delving into various interests, we craft a life where our careers and passions harmonize, ultimately leading us to a more fulfilling and passionate experience.

Story

I'm going to tell three quick stories that will illustrate different aspects of incorporating passion into your life.

The first one was long ago when I was looking for a job and got a phone interview with the president and founder of a manufacturing plant.

He opened the interview by asking me what I knew about ball bearings.

I answered, “Well, not much. I know they're round.”

That was my first mistake.

Stainless steel ball bearing.

"You’re wrong!" he shouted at me. He proceeded to spend the next hour telling me all about ball bearings.

He explained they are bearings and they're not all round.

Details flowed of how bearings of various types and varieties made the entire world work. This guy was so passionate about ball bearings.

Do I think he was born with that interest? No, I do not.

He found an interest through working on ball bearings and understanding them.

As his expertise increased, so did his passion. Enough that he eventually started a successful business.

I didn't get the job, by the way. Apparently, I wasn’t passionate enough about ball bearings.

That's number one.

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Number two, I had a friend who owned a mushroom-slicing factory.

One day, I asked him how it was that he came to own a mushroom-slicing factory. It's not like every little kid says someday, I'm going to be a mushroom slicer.

He wanted to find something where he could have an impact. He wanted to do something high-quality. He started with a passion for those two things.

He came across the need for high-quality mushrooms in restaurants in our area.

According to him, the French were world leaders in slicing mushrooms, so he traveled to France and examined the machines that they used.

He imported a few and created a business out of it.

Again, he had a passion for providing a high-quality product. He discovered a passion for mushrooms through exploration and experimentation.

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Finally, my youngest son had a passion for baseball.

He loved the game, ultimately playing at the collegiate level.

Looking back, a big factor as to why was because he was born in July.

Baseball cut-off was at the end of July, which made him one of the oldest kids in the league.

He had the advantage of being the oldest and most experienced on any team he played for, which coincidently got him more playing time, which, in turn, created a virtuous cycle of opportunity and success.

Every other sport was scheduled around the grade in school, and in those sports, he was always the youngest.

Unlike baseball, when he played basketball, he was the shortest, the smallest, and the least experienced because he was as much as year younger than other kids.

As a result, from a skill perspective, he might have been a good basketball player, but he didn't do as well at basketball.

He developed a passion for the game he was good at and not for the others.

One final point about passion. He played catcher, and catchers are like an assistant coach on the field.

It sparked an interest in coaching, which has stayed with him and not just baseball.

Coaching represented his deepest passion for sports. Knowing and understanding the game and being able to convey it to others and lead people in that.

He has adapted those competitive urges and coaching skills to what he does for a living, which has nothing directly to do with baseball.

So those are three glimpses into passions, how they come into your life, and applying them through various means.

Application.

Here are some practical approaches to exploring passion in your life:

1. Discover New Interests:

One of the most exciting aspects of life is the potential for discovery. To uncover your passions, make a conscious effort to try new things. Attend workshops, take up a new hobby, travel to unfamiliar places, or engage in activities you hadn’t considered before. Each unique experience is an opportunity to reveal a passion you never knew existed.

2. Develop Interests for Joy and Mastery:

Not every passion needs to lead to a career or a source of income. Embrace the idea of developing interests purely for the joy of it or to excel at something for fun. Whether it's painting, cooking, playing a musical instrument, or any other pursuit, immersing yourself in an activity solely for the love of it can bring immense satisfaction and a sense of personal accomplishment.

3. Find Passion in Livelihood:

While not every passion can be directly translated into a career, it's possible to discover ways to integrate your interests into your profession. Look for ways you can infuse elements of your passions into your daily work, adding a sense of purpose and enthusiasm.

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Whether discovering new interests, pursuing hobbies for pure joy, or integrating your passions into your career, remember that passions can evolve over time. Be open to the idea that what ignites your enthusiasm today may not be the same in the future. Allow yourself the freedom to explore new interests and let your passions grow and change with you.

🌀Reflection.

Here are three questions to encourage you in your exploration.

1. Think of a passion or hobby you've taken up purely for the joy of learning and mastering it. How has this pursuit brought you happiness, personal growth, or a renewed sense of enthusiasm for the journey itself rather than focusing solely on the end result?

2. Consider an area of your life where you've yet to explore your passions fully. What steps can you take to infuse more of your authentic interests into that aspect of your life, creating a more fulfilling and harmonious experience?

3. When have you aligned your profession with your passions, even if it was only partially? How did this alignment impact your job satisfaction and overall well-being?

🌀 Remember: No matter what has come before, today is a fresh start. 🌱

Let’s make things a little bit better. 🌱

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