What Is Passion?
What are you passionate about?
This is a question that a lot of people tend to neglect. They go about their lives, doing the things that they do, some for themselves, some for other people. The answer to that question is a shrug of the shoulders, a tilt of the head, possibly even a thoughtful, “Hm.”
Tony Robbins ends every section of his Personal Power series with, “Live with Passion.” This has nothing to do with physical and sexual intimacy, necessarily. This is the idea that during the finite time in which we exist in these meat popsicles, why do we so readily settle for mediocrity?
Of course I can go ahead and blame society. Sure, there’s a norm when it comes to societal expectations for us all. On a broad scale this includes education, employment, partnerships and procreation. There are certain expectations for this that have been perpetuated in books and movies, and imprinted upon the collective consciousness.
But each and every one of us is capable of doing, having and being pretty much whatever we want. Yet if we remain personally disempowered, then those who are “in power” can keep their hold on us. Especially when they use lack and scarcity to maintain control.
BUT, let’s not go into this again today. It is very easy to blame society, outside influences, how we were raised, and the expectations of others for dissatisfaction in our lives. Blame, however, is useless. Utterly, completely useless. Has blaming anyone for anything been of any use to anyone ever?
Think about it. Seeking out and placing blame is a delaying tactic. It is displacement, from a psychological perspective. We can blame others all day long for any number of matters…and solve nothing. Choose to let go or move forward. That gets stuff done.
What is My Passion?
My wife and I were discussing recently the idea that discovering what you are passionate about can be infuriating. What if you simply don’t know? What if there is more than one thing? How will you know?
I have several passions in my life. First, and probably foremost, is writing. I love the written word. I love to read, I love to write. It began for me a very long time ago, now, and even though I ignored it for a while, I returned to it, and express it pretty frequently now. Writing and editing make me feel good, inspired, excited for life.
I have a new job where I am editing content. This is a job I love. There are words to be edited, and sometimes rewritten. Additionally, I get to assign topics to the writers, which means I get to employ my Google-fu. Web research is, it turns out, another passion.
Every single day I learn something new. Often, this stems from a need to know something, and a Google search happens. Before I know it I am reading different articles about a thing, and some new point of knowledge is inside my over-full brain-box. There is infinite possibility in this world, and always something new to be learned.
Then we come to the SCA, which lets me explore several passions of mine. Two in particular. First, and probably foremost, FENCING. Dear gods do I love fencing. Twenty-six-and-a-half years ago I first picked up a sword, and I have been at it ever since. I can be feeling down, kind of out-of-it, and if I go to practice I almost always come out feeling better.
I love fencing, and I love teaching fencing. Over the years I have helped over a dozen people learn this arte.
Passion drives me.
It’s quite probable I could write an entire blog about my passion for fencing. Pure love, pure joy when I hold my swords and take to the field. Twice already this week, and I get to do it again tomorrow.
Anyhow, I digress. The other passion the SCA draws out in me is my love of live theatre. My college degree, frequently called useless by me, was in Drama. I wasn’t an actor, much…I was a director, producer, and sound designer. In high school I helped build sets and rig shows, which I also got to do in college. There is something about creating this imagery with living flesh on the stage that is just incredible.
Eighteen years ago…wow, has it really been that long? Anyhow, I got into voice heraldry. For those not in the SCA, that’s either being a “town crier” and shouting announcements without a mic at an event, or in a combat list…or standing behind the thrones and presenting awards to worthy recipients for a Baron and Baroness, Prince and Princess, or King and Queen.
I have had the privilege of being the King and Queen’s primary herald several times now. Called in the East Kingdom either Eastern Crown (or, as some prefer, Vox Regis), it makes use of my theatre knowledge. As Vox, I get to play the role of producer, director, stage manager, and actor for court. From the planning to processional to court to recessional to reporting, often with improv in-between, I put on some theatre. I only recently realized that’s exactly what this is.
What is Passion?
Passion is how even writing about this stuff makes me feel. I am excited, I can’t type the words out fast enough, and I could go on and on and on for a couple dozen pages. New ideas about my passion pop into my head as I write about them, and I feel excitement about the day ahead, and what possibility lies within.
That is passion. Zeal for life, desire for learning, looking forward to the day ahead. Despite the uncertainty of the world around me, I know I can consciously create reality, walk the path of my choosing, and learn something new every day.
A last note here. If you don’t know what your passion is, ask yourself, what am I passionate about? If you have no answer, take it down a notch and ask, what makes me feel good? Passion is when thought inspires feeling, and together they drive intentional action. It need not be grandiose…it just needs to inspire desire. What are YOU passionate about?
As always, thank you for crossing the bridges between my worlds with me.
This is the eighty-first entry of my personal journey, the Crossing the Bridges series. My collectively published writing can be found here.
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