In order to reignite our passion I think we must first figure out why the flame went out in the first place. Take a look at the following four passion killers below and what each of us can do to reignite the fire!
Passion Killer Number 1: Familiarity
There is a difference between familiarity and contentment. As the quote says, “Familiarity breeds contempt” but contentment requires focus and purpose. If you know why you exist and what you were designed for then even the most mundane tasks will be a passionate endeavor for you.
Reignite! If familiarity is getting the best of you then rethink your purpose. A renewed passion could be just within your reach.
Passion Killer Number 2: Wrong Company
If you are the perfect picture of health and found yourself in a room sitting next to
someone who has a cold it is more likely that you will catch the cold than they are to
catch health. I hope that makes sense. That’s just simply the way things flow. Bad
company corrupts good character and If you get enough lethargic people in a room they
can suck the enthusiasm right out of it. I have seen it happen. Ten buckets of apathy
usually douse the one flame of passion.
Reignite! Get around passionate people. If you feel like your passion is waning these
days take a look around, you may be catching a cold.
Passion Killer Number 3: Nothing To Fight For
What floats your boat? What sparks your interest? What ignites your passion? What are you fighting for? I can think of the lyrics to the song “Some Nights” by the group Fun.
“Oh Lord, I'm still not sure what I stand for oh
What do I stand for? What do I stand for?
Most nights, I don't know anymore...”
I have felt that way on occasion. What do I stand for? What am I pursuing that makes a difference? How am I making a difference?
Reignite! Sometimes a picture or written goal will help me reignite my passion. What are you fighting for these days? Write it down.
Passion Killer Number 4: A Hard Heart
Both apathy and passion are issues of the heart, not the mind. One of the greatest basketball players of all time, Michael Jordan, said “Heart is what separates the good from the great.” You can tell when someone is just going through the motions and you can tell when someone is driven by passion. I know there are things that grab my heart and when I speak or write about them I feel like they are erupting out of my soul like a volcano of passion. There are so many things that compete for our attention in this world but only a few will grab our hearts...passionately pursue them.
Reignite! What does your heart beat for? What topics get you excited? Set aside some time today to pursue that one thing.
A few years ago I came across an unknown author’s writings on the topic of passion and apathy, they wrote,
“We have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints; we spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy less.
We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time; we have more degrees, but less common sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, but more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.
We spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry too quickly, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too seldom, watch TV too much, and don’t pray enough.
We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor. We've conquered outer space, but not inner space; we've done larger things, but not better things; we've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul; we've split the atom, but not our prejudice; we write more, but learn less; plan more, but accomplish less, we have increased our apathy and reduced our passion.” Author Unknown
Question: What is your greatest passion these days?