Passion is the wrong word

1/16/2014

Who cares what you are passionate about? I sure don't, and you shouldn't either. I constantly hear people talking about "finding their passion". To start, let's look at definition of the word passion:

pas·sion
[pash-uhn]
noun
1. any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling, as love or hate.
2. strong amorous feeling or desire; love; ardor.
3. strong sexual desire; lust.
4. an instance or experience of strong love or sexual desire.
5. a person toward whom one feels strong love or sexual desire.

Passion is an animal survival instinct. You're not passionate about making a difference in the world, you're passionate about having sex, eating, surviving, etc. I think Tony Robins may have been the first influential person to start misusing the word "Passion". Unfortunately it caught on and now everyone is misusing the word.

People think they are trying to "find their passion", when they are really trying to "figure out what inspires them".  I'm pointing it out, because it's much more than just semantics. Passion implies lusting and satisfying an internal urge in the moment. Finding your inspiration, or purpose, has nothing to do with passion.

When you are "living your purpose", or "living according to your highest values", or "doing what inspires you", it's not a spontaneous burst of extreme desire fleeting in the moment. Instead it's a sustained feeling of contentment, certainty, and purpose. It's a deep drive that is sustainable regardless of what life throws at you. You'll forge on to accomplish your goal because you know it is what you are meant to do. It's your deepest purpose for your current life.

Understanding the difference between inspiration and passion may help you approach the process of finding your purpose in a different light. Next time you are inclined to say or write about your "passion", consider if you really mean "inspiration", or "purpose".

2 Comments

Shelley

2/5/2014 12:25:07 am

This is from Websters 1828 Dictionary

PAS'SION, noun [Latin passio, from patior, to suffer.]

1. The impression or effect of an external agent upon a body; that which is suffered or received.

A body at rest affords us no idea of any active power to move, and when set in motion, it is rather a passion than an action in it.

2. Susceptibility of impressions from external agents.

The differences of moldable and not moldable, etc., and many other passions of matter, are plebeian notions. [Little used.]

3. Suffering; emphatically, the last suffering of the Savior.

To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs. Acts 1:3.

4. The feeling of the mind, or the sensible effect of impression; excitement, perturbation or agitation of mind; as desire, fear, hope, joy, grief, love, hatred. The eloquence of the orator is employed to move the passions.

5. Violent agitation or excitement of mind, particularly such as is occasioned by an offense, injury or insult; hence, violent anger.

6. Zeal; ardor; vehement desire.

When statesmen are ruled by faction and interest, they can have no passion for the glory of their country.

7. Love.

He owned his passion for Amestris.

8. Eager desire; as a violent passion for fine clothes.

PAS'SION, verb intransitive To be extremely agitated. [Not used.]

Without passion, you wouldn't enjoy your purpose. It's the fuel under the fire...:)

Eric Young

2/5/2014 03:58:32 am

Shelley,

I disagree. Without passion you wouldn't have fleeting moments of high adrenaline (which have nothing to do with your "purpose"). I think what you really mean is: Without inspiration to do what you value most you wouldn't have a purpose.
Your purpose is defined by your values, which define what inspires you.
The lasting "fuel under the fire" is your inspiration to do what you value. It's not short bursts of adrenaline based "fight or flight" based emotions of passion.

We may have to agree to disagree on this one.

Passion is the wrong word

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