Passion is a good thing. “Find what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life…”always move forward….” “idle hands are the Devil’s plaything…” It takes 10,000 hours of practice to be elite at something…”
This is not a blog about obsession. That’s an abnormal fixation on a person, event or thing. It’s not about ‘fandom’ either – that’s generally a casual interaction with an object, event or team.
I’m talking about passion. This is my definition- passion is the love and determination that one puts into an activity, object or event within the bounds or rules of that event that does not overrule other events, activities or interests.
I love soccer. I have a passion for soccer. I can play games of soccer almost any time and any where. That said- I would give up a game of soccer or a chance to play if something more important or equally important came up that was immutable.
I have love and passion for my wife. But the rules of relationships and life suggest that there are boundaries and limits that need respecting and I do. My love for my wife is such that it will NOT drive me mad. My love for soccer will not drive me mad.
My need to be productive drove me mad. My need to be right drove me mad. My need to seem perfect drove me mad. All of these are passions gone wrong. There is nothing wrong with being productive or right or strive for perfection- until it consumes the good and the normal.
Until it consumes me.
So what’s the check? How do I keep my new-found passions from consuming me? How do I ensure that I remain sane and grounded (ha!).
By asking questions of the questioner. It isn’t why I’m being consumed with whatever but who is being consumed…what part of me. I need to make sure that my passion and energies remain a renewable resource.
I burned myself out because I never stopped to renew and rejuvenate. I never stopped to ask – what is it about this that is making me unhappy and really listened to the answer. If I would have I would have realized that the thing making me unhappy wasn’t the thing I was doing but the me that was doing it.
Sitting with the existential crisis is important. Asking the questions honestly and questioning the questioner honestly (as well) is very important to me. If something makes me anxious or uncomfortable or nervous…why? What experience do I have to help overcome this?
I contain multitudes.
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