02 — Passion
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More than an interest.
Recently my friends and I were discussing that people tend to view themselves differently than how they are perceived. I found it interesting that as much as we try to compose ourselves in a certain way, it may not be understood by the public. We then proceeded to discuss the top three adjectives we would use to describe each other to someone new.
To my surprise, everyone’s answer to describe myself included “passionate”.
Prior to post-secondary, I often struggled with the concept of passion. I had difficulty identifying what I was passionate towards, and differentiating that feeling from interest. It was not until I moved for university that I began to comprehend its importance and distinction. The freedom of independence encouraged myself to properly allocate time for the things I enjoyed or needed to do. This experience became crucial to shaping my personality today.
The Contrast
The fundamental difference between interest and passion is the ability to act.
It is possible for people to have multiple interests and passions, but interests are often associated with hobbies. These are activities people enjoy during their free time, and usually what others ask when they first introduce each other. However, the differentiating factor with passion is the willingness to commit and dedication to the craft/subject. It is no longer for the sake of killing time, it is the constant thought and desire to understand and learn that evolves into passion. There should be a wave of excitement, an adrenaline rush and dopamine that runs through one’s mind as you think or talk about the subject. The constant desire to improve or learn about the topic is what stimulates people to continue. Ideally, passion should provide direction or purpose in one’s life, it indicates a goal that can be achieved. Unfortunately, finding that passion can vary in time and some people may not find it till much later in their life.
This directly relates to being called passionate, as it indicates my passion is being shown throughout my life. When I am around others, I am able to share or display the subjects I feel strongly towards. In my case, I have a few topics I tend to share that have evolved since from an interest. I love talking about these with others, so if these intrigue you I would love to chat!
My ULTRAlight Beam(s)
Environment: Since elementary school I was aware and concerned about the changing environment. I would be curious about the waste or recycling programs, and how climate change was affecting our world. This continued in high-school where I would be updated on the news regarding climate change and the politics that follow. Fast-forward to today, I dedicate my education and career to learn more about these changes in hopes to make a positive impact for the planet and communities.
Fashion: It was not until my first retail job that I began understanding how much clothing and branding could affect one’s lifestyle. In the past, I hardly paid attention about designers and brands as I lacked the appreciation for their work. At most, it was in my last years of high-school that I would think about what to wear but it was never in the ethical / sustainable perspective, or even aesthetically speaking. I started to genuinely understand the field when I met a coworker who happened to be a local artist. By all means, I am not a model or designer, but his perspective and knowledge helped me develop a style of my own and appreciate the industry. I acquired a more consumer conscious approach, and an eye for what best represented myself.
Christianity: My faith is ultimately my most important passion, but is also the most challenging. In summary, it is more than simply believing God created the universe, it should be how I present myself, connect with Him, and share it with others. Even if I grew up in the church environment, understanding the significance and importance of dedicating one’s life to God is an everlasting journey. I will be expanding on this later on, but it definitely is considered one of my passions.
In all three of these aspects I am pursuing knowledge and acting in some way to alter my lifestyle. The purpose of this week’s article is simply to clarify the difference between interest and passion and solidifying my own thoughts. I hope that everyone finds their passion as soon as possible because it truly feels amazing to have something to work towards and to feel that level of excitement.
