Here's my opinion on the whole interest vs. passion thing. If you have a passion for something it will pull you in. It's a strange feeling, but it's definitely there. You are drawn to it, and often you will not even know why. It is beyond rational thought. For example, you mentioned basketball as a possible passion or interest. Since it seems a lot of people like basketball, it's a good example. Some people play basketball to stay in shape. Some people play it because their friends play also, like a social thing. These are all good reasons. These people might practice their game here and there working on their jumper a couple hours a week while playing with their friends once or twice a week. If this is the case, then I feel it is more of an interest/hobby than a passion.Live-n-learn said:
But it is different with the person who treats it as a passion. The person that has a passion for it often plays it because they feel they have to. Like if they didn't, something would be missing from their lives. You will see these same people doing drills hours on end. When their friends are out partying, they are in the gym by themselves running suicides. While you're sleeping, they are working on their dribbling. When they play in pick-up games, they treat it like it is life and death. You look at them and wonder, they won't ever make it to the NBA (due to physical attributes or age), yet they seem to go at it like they will. They take it so seriously. Often times they themselves know they won't make it big, yet they put so much energy and time in practicing and playing. Why would they do that? It makes no sense. Why put so much time into something that wont be so rewarding? But to them, it is rewarding. To them, the passion fills a void inside, the passion makes the person feel like they are living. Again, I can't stress this enough, it is more of a feeling, it isn't something you can rationalize out. For example, you can't just get up one day and say "I think it would benefit me if I made this into my passion." It doesn't work like that.
My advice to you is not to feel down about this. You are not a loser if you don't have a passion. The losers are the people who have false passions and who do things only for the fame or the money it gives them. Often times, a lot of our passions is lost in childhood (which I see you've hinted at in an earlier post on this thread). Look into things that made you feel alive when you were a child and surprisingly you will often find they still do the same for you today. When I was a child, I loved things involved with wildlife and astronomy. Also, continue to try new things in life while being more aware of your feelings. Whatever you do, try not to think of 'looking for your passion' too much or worrying that you don't have one, like what you are doing in this post. Focus more on self-actualization and being more aware of your feelings. Chances are, you already have a passion for something but you don't realize it yet, or it is not developed. As from my basketball example above, just because you are passionate about something doesn't necessarily mean you're good at it and vice versa.
I actually expect a lot of people on this forum to have more passions so to speak then the average person. A lot of times, people with passions have their time taken up by it, which can lead to an almost non-existent social life. This isn't always the case but it's something to ponder. There can be a price to pay when you are very passionate about something.
I believe you can feel a little burnt out every so often. But as you go away from it you will eventually be drawn back in. It's a weird feeling but I'm sure some people know what I'm talking about. It's like, the more you resist it, the more you are tempted by it.Live-n-learn said: