Is yours harmonious or obsessive?
People refer to their passions often these days. Swimming, jogging, travel, career, collecting, and many more are referenced as things about which we are passionate.
You can probably think of at least one thing.
But, is it a healthy type of passion or unhealthy? As researcher R.J. Vallerand dubs, is it harmonious or obsessive?
The harmonious jogger takes time off to heal from an injury. The obsessive jogger will keep running and make the injury worse. The harmonious sailor will sail regularly and even invite family and friends along. The obsessive sailor will sail in risky weather and use his passion to avoid his family.
Christopher Peterson puts this well, “passions make life worth living but need to be pursued in ways that sustain themselves.” So, whether your passion is lawnmower racing, scrabble, or violin, enjoy! Get after it! Excel!
Just keep a healthy balance and perspective.
Worth Repeating
Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion.
-Friedrich Hegel
