Can Passion be addictive?

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img_1712How does passion for what we do impact our success?

Is passion addictive or does it change over time and as careers progress?

What do the actions of today’s corporate leaders tell us about their passion?

How has their passion changed over their careers – to get them to the position they are in today?

Discuss these questions in the context of the Four Principles of Purposeful Action, with examples and appropriate links.

This post was written by Chris Miller, featured here with his daughter. Chris will be the discussion leader for the week starting February 24.

56 thoughts on “Can Passion be addictive?”

  1. For passion to be addictive, people around you have to be influenced! “The people who influence you are the people who believe in you” [ http://www.quotesdaddy.com/quote/612156/henry-drummond/the-people-who-influence-you-are-the-people-who-believe ] Therefore, it is only passionate people that have an intention to spread the fire in them, exhibit their desire and want to influence in a positive light actually cause people around them to be passionate too.

    If the passion in a person is fueled by selfishness & self-promotion, then it draws irk & distaste rather than a motivation to be just like them! Thus, it is only purposeful passion that is addictive and influential in a good light.

    • So true!!! People burn hot for their desires or whatever captured their attention but quickly cool off. True passion is lit by a flame that is hard to extinguish.

  2. Scottgass made good point about lay off and how that can negatively have an effect on people. Some people are passionate about there job, they enjoy it and their lives depends on it. I can see how this can affect the core values as worker when the fear inside about loosing jobs.

    • Roy Mathai, i will agree with you some people will be passionate about there job and the people who are not doing the justice to they job will obviously have a fear of losing the job.

  3. Passion draws you to something; it increases the value of activities in your life; it increases your energy, your motivation, your creativity. You feel expanded, revitalized, and passionate. Addiction takes away from your life; it reduces your motivation to do things outside of the one activity.

    http://www.igda.org/articles/austin_addiction.php

    Now lets put both these points together being addictied your passion (right passion ) make better in life. If your passion is to give to others, i would say it say good addiction to have. Because being a giver is an important part of leader.

    • Nice article! I see how the connection between meditation and introspection is highlighted in the methods suggested for self-realization.
      “You know, passion is addictive. People love to be around passionate people. It makes them feel so alive and happy. You can share that with others.” Doesn’t that answer our question? :)

      • Good article Roy. And good point Jimy. I agree that people like to be around passionate people. Also, when someone is passionate about their vision then the followers tend to also become passionate about it. In a sense, they become addicted to the passion. Take Martin Luther King. He had a passion for what he believed in… what his dream (vision) was. His passion was so strong that his followers became addicted to it and also became passionate about it.

        In other people’s posts they have put that addiction is a negative value. In this sense, addiction can be good. The difference is that the vision has to be purposeful and not self-serving.

        • Roy E, Jimy and ntownsend you discussed a good points that some people like to be with passionate people. The passion mainly about either a good or bad. Some one will passionate about the vision and some people will follow and believe in the vision. They are addictable to follow the vision.

  5. “Passion draws you to something; it increases the value of activities in your life; it increases your energy, your motivation, your creativity. You feel expanded, revitalized, and passionate.” [1] If you are passionate about your vision or goals, you naturally perform better, which means you have a better chance of being successful. Passion can be addictive, but it changes as you go through your life journey. It changes when you mature and/or when you are faced with new challenges that lay in front of you. For example; I used to be very passionate about basketball and wanted to be best I can be. It was to the point that I was actually addicted to it, and I couldn’t live my life without it. I even decided to leave my family and friends and traveled a couple thousand miles to the US to compete against tougher competition, in order to become better and fulfill my dream of playing professionally. But when I suffered a serious knee injury, I had to reconsider my vision. Soon after, I matured and realized that there are also other options and goals that I can pursue, and I started a new chapter of my life.

    [1]http://www.igda.org/articles/austin_addiction.php

    • Thats interesting and unfortunate about your knee injury Mirek. I had a similar situation with a knee injury, but I probably wasn’t as passionate about sports as you were about basketball. All I wanted was a college scholarship!!!!

    • Yes Mirek. You initially seem to be indulged a lot in your vision, but it’s only as you grow and mature you understand what your passion is all about and where it lies.

    • Mirek

      That is the difference between passion and obsession, you realized that your first vision had to change and you did

      There are others that would be so obsessed with making to the NBA, they would continue on a path that would not be reachable

  6. I see a difference in the amount of passion in the “leaders” of the company I work for every day. Some have a passion for what they do and the way their departments meet goals shows it. Others in the plant who lack that kind of passion are simply collecting a paycheck and have no desire to make the business better.
    I think that passion spawns from the value system in an individual. Those with the positive core values within them will have a higher desire and a better chance to succeed.
    Currently, I am seeing a lack of passion in my workplace as the recent layoff has had a negative effect on the overall performance of most of the employees. There is an interesting article about “passion” at the link below.

    http://www.briannorris.com/passion/what-is-passion.html

    • Scott,

      It was an interesting article. At times when things are bad, only passion can keep you moving. This passion will lead you to achieving success; leading you to a fulfillment. This might become the opportunity to pursue your real passion.

    • Scott

      I agree with Mark, and wonder if some of the leaders didnt have passion at all, but were just “doing” their job
      Passion should get you through the tough time in my opinion

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