Monday Motivation: Perks and Perils of Being Passionate

United succumbed to a disappointing 1-3 defeat in the Manchester Derby. Photo Courtesy - goal.com

Have you ever felt so happy that it felt like your lungs would burst out of your chest? Have you ever felt so sad that it's hard to even breathe? Well, we are practically family then!

While a lot of things make me emotional, nothing gets me going like football. So it was only fair that I was heartbroken at Manchester United's defeat in the Manchester Derby at the weekend. I had been following the Red Devils for almost 2 decades now and while I have seen them (on the television ofcourse!) lift every trophy possible, each defeat still hurts deep inside. And the loss to Manchester City ruined my Sunday, my dinner and a good night's sleep.

Which brings me to my current predicament - why are we like this? (I am ofcourse assuming that I am not the only one drowning in my own pool of tears!). You see, we could easily be content with the first sign of achievement, the first trophy, the first win and say - "Yeah, I've supported them, they have won a game, it has been worthwhile, let us support someone else for a change." Yes, we could easily do that. So why do we allow ourselves to be so indulged in some things in our lives?

Why are we so attached with the teams we follow, the messiahs (see what I did there?) we worship? Why do we feel heartbroken a million miles away from the action? Why do we let opposition fans troll and mock us without restrain? The answer isn't obvious, but it's just what happens when you feel passionate about something in your life. Your passion moves you, lifts you, breaks you and makes you. It's both your saviour and your tormentor, yet life would be pretty dull in its absence.

It is necessary to be passionate

It is not just sports that people are passionate about. It could be reading a book, it could be playing the guitar. It could be the call of the road, Wanderlust and the desire to travel. It could be listening to music, it could be dancing your heart out.

(Also Read - Monday Motivation: Wanderlust and the call of the Road)

There is a subtle difference between hobby and passion. Where as hobbies are considered to be a relaxing way to pass time, passions do not let you just relax. Instead, your passion engages you, drives you and comes back to you relentlessly. You are engrossed in it and it is so enticing that you are willing to suffer for it.

It is something that churns your emotions, sends them in a turmoil, makes you laugh, makes you sad, touches you deep within. For starters, it keeps you engaged, indulged and provides a shot of excitement in your life. Something to think about the whole day, in between work. Then there's the motivation factor. It inspires you, edges you on, urges you to keep trying and helps you up when you fall. Being passionate makes life worthwhile.

Sometimes people find their calling and invest in it, making a profession out of their passion. However rare that might be, it is as simple as loving what you do and doing it all day long. For the other unfortunate people like us, we have to find time within our jobs, our daily routine to keep fueling our interests.

Psychologists now a days believe that having a passion is directly associated with physical and mental well being of a person and as such, if you are not passionate about something in life yet, now is a good time to start.

Finding Your Calling

They say your calling shall come to you naturally, but life is not always that romantic. If the river doesn't flow by your house, build your home by the riverside. Or something like that.

Just like everything else in one's life, you can develop and find something to be passionate about in life. Start by sorting out what makes you happy and yes, sleep doesn't count! It has to be something that gives you immense satisfaction, like playing a favourite tune on the guitar, going on walks early in the morning, history, politics, reading, writing, sports, health, fitness.

There's an inherent risk in pursuing your passion that draws everyone back. The most common factor is humiliation - what will people say? What if I fail? What if it doesn't work? And this is where most of the problems lie. We cannot live our lives on what ifs, neither can we expect people to understand everything we do. I have received a lot of stick in life for my craze about football, but I have, with time, learnt the secret to dealing with humiliation. It is by surrounding yourself with people who understand you and your passion - friends, people who share your passion and family.

The one thing that keeps you alive

Everyone needs a little spice in their lives, something that makes one feel alive. Technically, this is your calling, it is something that comes naturally to you and something that doesn't fade with time.

While my love of Football, Manchester United and Messi might be quite evident to the people who know me well, my real calling came when my Father inspired me to pick up a pen years ago and write something from the heart. It started small, but the joy when my parents read my work and liked it was unmatched. Those little words of encouragement, that pat on the back that made everything sweeter would forever remain etched in my memory.

The pen and paper have been replaced, to a great extend, by my laptop, but the emotions they generated have remained the same. Just like me, this applies to all the passionate people in the world. There is a mystic charm in doing something you love. Like the warmth of the morning sun on a foggy winter morning, it is both satisfying and inspiring. It is what completes us and keeps us alive.

Staying Passionate

It is hard to pick up a passion, but it is harder to stay passionate through out your lives. Especially when your team has been humiliated 1-3 by your local rival! But that is the beauty of life - it is the agonies and ecstasies that are etched forever in our memories.

When you feel passionately about something in your life, you do not care about the outcome, you do not care about the failure, about the jeers and the very public (thanks to the social media) humiliation. Because your passion becomes your inspiration and nothing can take it away from you.  The few moments of ecstasy are worth their weight in gold and they outlive the moments of disdain.

So, if like me, you are going through a low, drag yourself up and dust yourself. The end is not here. This all but a minor block on the road. Cause we have mountains to climb and rivers to pass. The highs are passingly pleasurable, the lows stay around a bit longer, I admit, but even the pains do not last forever. Trust me, at the end of our lives, it will be a memorable journey, all the very sweeter because you had something to believe in.

Have you ever felt so happy that your lungs could burst out of your chest? Have you ever felt so sad that it's hard to even breathe? Well, congratulations, you are alive.

Have a wonderful week ahead.