Purpose, Passion and Obsession

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”

Harriet Tubman

“Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.”

Oprah Winfrey

“Live with passion!”

Tony Robbins

I am really glad to be here!  I love being here!  I literally just breathed a sigh of relief.  Thank you, God, for giving me a Muse and a quiet place to spend time with her.  I will get tired soon enough, but right now I feel like I don’t want to leave this place for hours.  I feel that I could just sit here in this chair and be with my Muse all night.  Sometimes I wonder if readers get bored reading about my passion for writing.  I hope the reader understands that my blogs aren’t about my writing or about me.  They’re about passion.  That is what I want everyone to have – passion. 

Passion is huge.  I don’t know if everyone has it, needs it or want it.  There can be downsides to it.  Sometimes it’s hard to know when to turn it off.  I’ve found that unless people share the same passion or have any passion at all, it’s hard to explain my enthusiasm.  Sometimes people confuse passion with intensity.  I’ll admit that passion and obsession look alike.  Here are the differences.

Passion is born out of love.  Obsession is born out of need.

Passion is a desire to give.  Obsession is a desire to take.

Passion wants to meet the needs of others.  Obsession wants to meet the needs of the obsessed person.

Passion is centered.  Obsession is distracting.

Passion is…well…passionate.  Obsession is angry.

Passion is energizing.  Obsession is exhausting.

Passion is fun.  Obsession is serious, very serious.

Passion is healthy.  Obsession is either mildly or very sick.

Here are some activities that I have found to be worthy passions:

·      Any artistic endeavor.

·      Anything that directly or indirectly intends to help others.

·      Anything that has love as its source.

·      Anything that points the way to God.

·      Anything that feels peaceful.

Here are things that I have found to be obsessions:

·      Almost anything political, especially Republican or Democrat.

·      Anything that promises easy money or money as a means to fix all problems.

·      Anything that blatantly or intentionally disregards the feelings of or oppresses others.

·      Anything that forces its opinions or ideas on others.

·      Almost anything that divides people.

·      Anything that hurts others or one’s self.

Sometimes it seems as if the lines might blur.  Perhaps my writing might become an obsession.  I think, however, if I keep my Purpose in mind, then the means won’t become the ends.

Tonight I was tired and ready to go to sleep.  But my passion kept me energized and awake.  Now I’ll sleep better because I remembered to Get Started and Keep Going…and pursue my passion.