The Difference Between Passion And Obsession
Passion and obsession are two similar realities that are also quite different. The first corresponds to a large flow of emotional energy that causes one to cross the boundaries, and go far beyond. The other paralyzes or reduces beyond limits.
Thus, passion and obsession are cohesive realities. In other words, you can start something out of passion and then cross a certain line, and suddenly you are in the terrain of obsession. Thus we can say that obsession is excessive passion.
It is likely to be said that passion and obsession are two sides of the same coin. Both of these subjective realities come from great emotional commitment with the greatest attention and focus. However, one represents the constructive part and the other the destructive part.
Passion and obsession
In many cases, passion and obsession follow a line of continuity dictated by external factors. It usually starts with some activity you enjoy where you suddenly find a lot of joy. The work is so attractive that you become passionate about it.
Passion makes you devote much of your time to such a task, and you try to improve it by setting higher parameters for demands and perfection. Then comes achievement and with it recognition for such an activity, and that is when the problems can begin.
As it turns out, external validation can be a negative factor. What used to be spontaneous and fun is now an activity that is used to get positive confirmation from others. You no longer enjoy the process, but only the result. Thus, you start to get obsessed with it.
The labyrinths of the occupation
When you become obsessed with a given activity because of the response you get from the results, joy becomes worry. You begin to become dependent on others and become restless and stressed. In fact, some studies show that this addiction can even lead to unethical behavior.
As a result, the need for a validating response from others goes out of control and becomes an obsessive passion accompanied by restlessness and even frustration. This addiction is not only emotional but also physical.
There is evidence that an excessive concern for external approval floods the body with dopamine and becomes an addiction. This, of course, reinforces the addiction, and a person judges everything under a completely different logic. There is effort, even exhaustion, and uncertain results at once. They may even feel the need to cheat just to get approval.
Dependence on external approval
Very few people can completely detach themselves from the opinions of others and reach a point where their approval does not matter. It takes a highly developed person to do that. Thus, ordinary people are dependent on the approval of others.
After all, who does not like to receive an award or recognition for what they have done? For example, most people feel a certain satisfaction when they post something on social networks and get a “like”, when they see a friend request, or when the number of followers increases.
The secret of not falling into the trap of an obsession for the approval of others is to be aware of it. You have to understand that when you get a “like” for something you said without any pretension, it is important that you expressed it and that others thought it was well thought out. The rest is a bonus. It may be there today, but maybe not tomorrow.
There is a lot to gain when you can enjoy what you do and when you can be consistent with what you think without worrying about the outcome. It is not easy to get rid of the motivation that other people’s response may mean, but you have to work on it. Always work so that you do not fall into that trap. Let your passion, not your obsession, guide you.
