Developing Your Passion
When we think of passion, we often think of something that sits on the sidelines, waiting for us to attend to it after our “real work” is done—in other words, a hobby.
But think about this: according to Kevin Hall’s Aspire, “The word ‘passion’ first surfaced in the twelfth century. Coined by Christian scholars, it means to suffer. In its purest sense it describes the willing suffering of Christ.” “Passion doesn’t mean just suffering for suffering’s sake; it must be pure and willing suffering. “It’s one thing to suffer and be a victim; it’s an entirely different thing to be willing to suffer for a cause and become a victor…being willing to suffer for what you love. When we discover what we are willing to pay the price for, we discover our life’s mission and purpose.”
That’s passion. It’s the core of the human spirit. Certainly not a hobby. Think of Leonardo Da Vinci. A painter, an inventor, scientist and all around genius, he was arguably one of the most brilliant minds the world has seen; yet he was financially dissolute for most of his life, relying on patrons for food and shelter. Despite these privations, he was dedicating his life to learning and self-expression, living his passion and following his purpose.
Viktor Frankl, a psychologist who was intimate with suffering of a more sinister kind at the hands of the Nazis, wrote this about passion:
If we can find something to live for –if we can
Find some meaning to put at the center of our lives—
Even the worst kind of suffering becomes bearable.
When you feel the need to do something so strongly that you are willing—happy, even—to suffer for it, that is when you have found your true purpose. When you have passion, you will do whatever it takes to simply continue doing it. It’s not something you have to try to do, but something you have to do.
Success Clues – Living Your True Calling. At Work, At Play, Everyday
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