Over
the next 3 or 4 weeks we are going to explore PASSION.
Specifically, my plan is to discuss what it is, why we need it, and how it
can benefit us.
WHAT
IS PASSION?
We hear a lot about passion in the business
world today, so much so that it’s easy to take its importance as a given (if
you need it), - or, if you think you’ve got it, to take it for granted - and
overlook the need to explore passion in our own lives. Well, my friend, let me tell you: passion is
one topic that it is absolutely worth revisiting over and over, because it is the
underlying motivator for success.
Let’s start by settling the
fundamentals. What is this thing called passion?
Is it an emotion? A state of
being? An energy that motivates us? A way of thinking? All of these could describe passion in some
way, but I’d like to suggest that passion is something more – passion is a life
force. Specifically, this force
manifests itself as an intense sensation which compels us to act. Once we feel a surge of passion, we almost
can’t help but do something about it!
Think about it – an inventor stays up into
the wee hours of the morning tinkering with his masterpiece. An avid cyclist happens upon a challenging
route and is out there at 4:30
the next morning before work, huffing up the hills. A salesperson who believes in his product
pounds the phones all day long, not even stopping for lunch. They do this because passion will not let
them rest. It acts as an internal force,
is expressed externally through action and enthusiasm. Often, this enthusiasm leads us to see
connections we may not have previously recognized – the inventor sees the cogs
aligning just so, the cyclist sees every dip in the road as a challenge, and
the salesman recognizes an opportunity while chatting up a neighbor in the
grocery. When we are passionate about
something, we use everything in our lives to its full potential, with the
ultimate goal of fulfilling the purpose or cause that our passion dictates.
Passion, in its purest form, is not
rational. That may be part of what we
like about it – it is such a raw sensation, undeterred by the reason that so
frequently (and necessarily) dominates our thinking. And while I believe that passion overall is a
positive force, it is good to remember that it lacks reason, and it is up to us
to apply the necessary amount of reason to the way in which we express our
passions. For example, you may
be passionate about swimming, but without training and preparation, you probably
shouldn’t attempt to cross the English Channel.
One more thing – I believe that passion is a
natural state of being. There is nothing
“weird” or “overzealous” about being passionate. Look at the way a child throws himself into
his favorite activity – simple though it may be. He chases his favorite ball with excitement, waves
his arms in triumph when the last puzzle piece fits, and throws his whole
body into an embrace. He has not yet
learned to externally mask the passion he feels internally. Obviously, as we age, our passions become
more refined and we learn about appropriate societal behavior, but in some
sense, we also let our expressions of passion become dulled.
I’d like you to take a moment and reflect on
your current passion levels in your own life.
Nothing formal, you don’t have to write anything down or make a list –
although if you feel like it, by all means, please do! Just take a second and think about your
responses to the following questions:
What is passion?
How do you
exhibit passion in your life currently?
What are you passionate about?
That's it for today, look for part 2 titled "Why do we need passion?" sometime next week. Until then, I resolve to seek progress, not perfection using Passion as my fuel...will you join me?
As always, comments are appreciated and do me a favor, don't keep me a secret. Encourage others to follow my blog in their attempt to seek Progress.
