The pop-culture misunderstanding of passion
We need to rethink how we approach passions.
What do image pops into your mind when you think of the word ‘passion’? Say it out loud. Passion! It is a powerful word. Perhaps you get an image of two lovers lost in a frenzied embrace? Maybe you see other people in fervent, single minded pursuit and commitment?
Why is the concept of ‘passion’ so fraught with emotion? Why do we gravitate towards it? What does it really mean to us in our life and how do we use it?
Our ubiquitous friends at Wikipedia define passion as follows:
“Passion (…) is a term applied to a very strong feeling about a person or thing. Passion is an intense emotion compelling, enthusiasm, or desire for anything.
The term is also often applied to a lively or eager interest in or admiration for a proposal, cause, or activity or love – to a feeling of unusual excitement, enthusiasm or compelling emotion, a positive affinity or love, towards a subject. It is particularly used in the context of romance or sexual desire though it generally implies a deeper or more encompassing emotion than that implied by the term lust.”
That’s a fairly standard understanding of passion. But there is something missing. And that is what I want to talk about today.
That editorial ellipsis in the beginning (the three dots after the word ‘passion’) is mine. I removed the most important part of the definition of passion. I did so to highlight a point; that we have assumed passion into our pop-culture to such an extent that it no longer retains its original meaning and purpose.
Here’s the key;
Passion: (from the Latin verb patī meaning to suffer)
In our reductionist world we glibly say that we have a passion for potato chips. I ask you; “Are you really willing to suffer in your pursuit of potato chips?” We translate passion to mean we like something, maybe really like something. But the key that separates passion from like is your willingness to suffer.
I am passionate about my running. I can say that because I am willing to suffer to achieve my running goals. But I don’t mind the suffering because I have a passion for the act, the process and the results. The suffering of passion is such that we embrace the suffering as part of the passion. The suffering enhances the passion and makes it more worthy and more valuable to us personally.
You will often hear self help pundits use the old maxim “If you find a job that you are passionate about you’ll never have to work a day in your life.” People wrongly interpret this as meaning that if you find something you love every day will be roses, rainbows and unicorns. That’s not what it means and if you go into it with that expectation you will be disappointed.
What it means is that if you find work you are passionate about you will suffer for it but that suffering will be part of the joy. You’ll work harder, you’ll work longer hours you’ll pay a great personal toll for that passion in your career but it will be glorious and self fulfilling.
That’s why it is so important to separate ‘likes’ from true passions in your life. I see people who confuse hobbies with careers. You may like gardening, but are you willing to work 80 hours a week over the next 5 years building a viable company or career around it? Are you so passionate about it that the suffering is part of the joy of the pursuit?
In your relationships are you really passionate about that person? Because if you are going to spend a life with them I guarantee you are going to suffer. If that suffering is part of a lifelong passion then get on the bus and hold on tight brother.
Passions are not ‘likes’. Passions are not ‘desires’. Passions are holding on to a hot poker and not being able to let go for the joy of the suffering.
When you understand the meaning of passion on your life you can move on to your fellow humans. Add the root ‘com’ which means ‘with’ and you get the word ‘compassion’. Compassion is when you are willing to suffer for someone else. It is when your beliefs and loves are so strong that you are willing to adopt another’s suffering. When you gain the level of true compassion you are one step closer to God.
Suffer well in your passions my friends.