Passion: The Motivation Behind Desire

Introduction:

Welcome back my friend,

Away from all the hassles of the week, we've returned here again this weekend to have another suiting conversation.

I assume we're well relaxed and in the mood, having put aside every other thing to be here.

How are you?

Well, good enough to show up here today, so not bad at all.

Hopefully, even better when we're done with this conversation.

Discussion:

Passion in this context is the quality to be driven by a motivating force so that we're more willing and strengthened to take action.

When we're passionate about something, we want to participate; effectively playing our role in making it a reality.

This makes it a good trait, since it pushes us to commit wholeheartedly, freely giving our best, without feeling compelled or burdened to do so.

For instance, two (2) athletes can both show up to training on time and have the right attitude to practice because they're both professionals, yet to one it's so much work but to the other it's another fun session.

Yet, both are passionate professionals, only driven by different things.

One by the desire to do a good job, the other, by the love of the game.

Same experience, different satisfaction.

■ Reassessing Some Of Our Motivations 

Passion can't be taught because it comes from within; as we give everything, motivated by the prospect of what we hope to achieve.

However, as we've already exemplified, while all motivations give us that extra spark to get over the line, it's not all that leaves us truly satisfied when all is done.

Some of such motivations include;

▪︎ Fear 

In a society that measures most of our success by material possessions, many of us live with the fear that we may not be able to amass enough.

For this reason, we make poor choices, getting involved in a lot of things we wouldn't normally do, in a desperate attempt to get rich quickly.

This is one way.

Then, there's the fear of not realizing our full potential, wasting away or living less than we can.

Here, we don't mind accepting collaborations and partnerships that are dubious as long as they offer us a pathway to the success we so crave.

Which is something we go on to regret; after we've eventually got there only to realize that it's not worth it.

Yet most times because we're already too neck deep, we now feel it's too complicated to pull back.

This is a difficult place to be.

Fear is a bad motivation because it stands in the way of rational thinking, triggering our survival instincts so that the only thing we want is to instantly have our way “before it's too late”

…but when is it really late?

Also, there's the other side of this coin where we have the fear of losing what we already have.

Here, rather than enjoy them, we're left frustrated by the thought of no longer having them, so that we continue to work for more, even more than enough.

This is not the best motivation.

▪︎ Pride 

An unhealthy obsession with being the “head” will have us sabotage even trusted allies because “it takes stepping on others” to get to the top.

This is what ego says is right.

Here, we live with comparison passionately trying to accomplish more in order to show that we are better than everyone else.

This is unhealthy even if it drives us to do more.

It's also not satisfying because once someone refuses to “bow in acknowledgement” of our accomplishments, all that hidden insecurity jumps out; as we “demand respect” that should otherwise come naturally.

Other times, pride pushes us to make decisions that make us feel strong in order to prove a point, even when it's not in our best interest.

This is the norm these days especially on social media where we've sacrificed common sense on the altar of political correctness and wokeness.

Now, the more haughtiness one exhibits, the more they're applauded for being “tough”.

▪︎ Pain 

The pain of being rejected when we wanted to be accepted so badly, can make us passionate about self improvement and growth as a way of earning our place.

This is the wrong motivation.

When we assess our worth by standards set by others we give them the power to make us feel insignificant.

Here, regardless of how far we've come, as long as we don't feel their approval yet, we still want to measure up.

So at what point is it enough?

▪︎ Revenge

Oppression can make us strive for success as a way of becoming the oppressor.

When we're used to being in unhealthy spaces where survival is a matter of to eat or be eaten, we begin to work passionately towards acquiring all kinds of influence that can position us as the big fish.

This kind of motivation is ruthless, consuming all in the way, so that a person can do more.

However, it comes at the cost of our soul, which is certainly too big a price.

■ A Good Motivation

These four (4) wrong motivations we've pointed out have one thing in common; selfishness.

Yet true satisfaction is selfless, as we give up ourselves for the love of what we do, the love of others and the love of God.

This is the motivation that brings every other thing together.

When we get productive, we provide solutions to other people's problems, doing a good job, because our love for what we do inspires us to give our best effortlessly.

Consequently, it's this excellence that we're paid for.

This is the same even if we're merchants.

Our passion drives us in the direction of our purpose so that the ultimate reward of our work is the fulfillment we find in it.

Until then, we just have to keep up with what we're doing as a way of keeping busy and preparing for when it eventually clicks for us.

■ A Choice To Make 

God's love for us motivated Him to allow Jesus Christ to die for our sins, and by so doing offered us the chance of redemption.

All we have to do is believe.

Yet for the sake of this love, He also lets us choose, so that we can do that willingly not out of compulsion.

God doesn't want us serving Him out of fear of what He might do to us, or for the prideful arrogance of showing that we're holier or better than everyone else.

Rather, He wants to heal our hearts, replacing our pain with joy and the anger of revenge with the appreciation of all He's blessed us with.

All it takes is establishing that intimate relationship with Him through prayer, as inspired by our love for Him.

So that obedience comes more easily to us as a show of this love.

Summary:

Last week we discussed true conviction and the relationship between vision and perseverance.

Today, we've rounded that up with this one on how the motivation behind our drive can keep us from burning out because we're inspired to effortlessly be our best.

If for these reasons we've had to reflect on and question the intentions behind some of our actions, then we've achieved our purpose.

Master Apprentice.

www.x.com/truekingmaker