Passion is Subjective
Have you ever noticed how different people can feel passionate about completely different things? What does that tell us about passion? It gives us an indication of how passion is either subjective in nature, or expresses itself via varying conduits.
So people either have different passions, or they have the same passions but express them in different ways. That is a philosophical question to ponder upon, and I think that the answer may sway towards the first option. But that's just the way I see it. I could also very well be the case that it is a mix of the two. But whatever is the case, it can be said with some certainty that the exact things we feel passionate about are subjective. And what does that tell us about the nature of passion?
It hints at how it is at least influenced by our perception of reality. Maybe in reality, we are all passionate about the same things, which are filtered through our sense of reality, and then result in highly unique preferences. That's a maybe, but what we can be sure about is that our sense of reality influences what we feel passionate about.
If we observe someone who has always dreamt of winning a certain sports competition do precisely that, then we may see how their feelings may be greatly influenced by their sense of reality. Because if this person, after all the years of hard training, wins the contest for the first time, it may be highly emotional for them. But if it's their 8th straight win, they might not feel as much joy. They won the same contest, so what's the difference? Their perception of the contest has changed. Their sense of reality is different, and so their passions are altered too.
If we shift our perception of life, then what we are passionate about changes, and so it follows that we can influence what our passions are. And why would we want to do that? One reason is that it's possible for us to feel passionate about something which may not be best for us, necessarily. It is not like the passion isn't good for us, but the way in which it expresses itself may not always be. If we feel passionate about food, and consume enormous amounts of fast food, then that may not be great for our health. But we felt passionate about it.
What caused this situation was a certain sense of reality which filtered our passions in a less-than-healthy manner. A passion for enjoying lie is wonderful, but if it expresses itself via fast food, then it may not be best in the long term. Note that the passion itself is perfectly healthy- it's just the way in which it expresses itself. If we found ways of enjoying healthy foods, then we could live with just the same passion; expressed in a healthier manner.
In a way it is once again about recognizing cause and effect. Because, in the example given above, the passion wasn't really fast food. The passion was to enjoy life. And according to the person's sense of reality that passion for enjoying life (cause) created the habit of consuming a lot of fast food (effect). When we focus on what we really want and recognize the causes for our feelings, rather than just the feelings themselves, then we are already well on our way to shifting our perceptions, expanding our horizons, and seeing that there is another way for us to express ourselves- healthily, naturally, and harmoniously. Just as life was meant to be.
-Thomas
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