Life Shift - 2 Create Passion and Purpose

Passion can be defined as a strong inclination toward a self-defining activity that people care deeply about for investing time and energy on a regular basis. But what is the difference between a healthy harmonious passion (love?) and an obsessive devotion (addiction?) for guiding a person in how they focus their behaviors on the object of their affection? Psychological well-being, broadly defined as happiness, life satisfaction, and self-growth, represents one of the most important aspects of optimal physical and psychological functioning.  

Indeed, most medical, and psychiatric care givers agree that happy people experience several benefits ranging from physical health to better relationships to high-level performance. Being happily devoted to a significant person, noble cause or exciting hobby is obviously one essential ingredient for feeling fulfilled with one's life.

Dr. Robert Vallerand is currently a Full Professor of Psychology at the University of Quebec. He holds a Canada Research Chair (2019) in Motivational Processes and Optimal Functioning for studying the concept of passion and the impact of harmonious activities on the public's sense of well-being. His research (2012) demonstrates how the experience of positive emotions during activity engagement that takes place on a regular and repeated basis helps sustain emotional and physical health.  

The positive feelings of being engaged or connected to a worthwhile person or activity also prevents the experience of negative affect, psychological conflict, and ill being associated with stress related disorders. Passion shores up our self-esteem while strengthening us to fight off the negative effects of stress in our daily lives.

Vallerand and his colleagues (2008) developed a model of passion that addresses the question of can a person be "negatively" passionate about an object, cause or person for hindering people's ability to grow and be healthy. He and his team looked at how people see themselves and how a person's passion influenced and defined a person's identity.  

In short, the research concluded there is extensive evidence that the rewards of being in harmony with one's love does contribute to higher levels of optimal functioning as both psychologically and physically measured. But the research also demonstrated how people with an obsessive passion or fixation on an even a commonly defined "positive object" can cause clear evidence of distress and conflict with a more balanced lifestyle.  

The issue of passion becomes one of whether the focus of devotion is one of choice. To what degree you choose to engage in certain activities must be measured against the possibility the event/person is starting to control you. Internalizing the importance of an activity or person for achieving intrinsic value is optimum as long a s a person can engage in the passion with a flexible, mindful manner.  

When it is time to go home, do other healthy activities or just shut down the event...the healthy, harmonious passion can be put away. When the activity begins to control you and influences your ability to choose wisely...then other words like obsession and addiction come into play for describing your hobby.