“I am passionate about creating something but obsessed with making a great impression”. The sentence may seem innocent and something that a person would say casually, but there is so much depth to this sentence that many may not be able to fathom. I have always been fascinated with how one’s passion changes into an obsession and leads to a different kind of trouble?
Nuances of Obsession & Passion
The foremost thing to understand is to be able to tell what each term means and how they are the same/different.
Passion is an extreme interest in an activity. It is a wish for something so profound that your heart desires it constantly. Obsession is when this desire becomes the only thought that takes over every waking moment and sometimes more.
Passion makes you start your day; it keeps you going. Even when you do not have time, you still make time to follow your passion. Sometimes, it also gets thrown out when the situation and environment change.
On the other hand, obsession takes control of the conscious and sometimes the subconscious mind. It makes you do things that are extreme and dangerous too. The high performers in any field are not passionate; they are obsessed. It is difficult to refrain from the act even when the possibility of failing is high; if obsessed, don’t bother.
Excess of Passion is Obsession
Passion and obsession are 2 sides of a coin. Both require emotional engagement and utmost attention. The focus needs to follow the passion, but it quickly crosses the border into obsession. When passion starts to dictate your schedule, setting parameters and seeking validation, passion may change into obsession.
Joy to Worry
Obsession seeks positive validation! When we start depending on others, we become restless and stressed to get reinforcement; that is when the passion has gone into the dangerous ground of becoming an obsession. The validation releases dopamine and we become addicted to it. The very thought fuels it further.
The obsessed person feels like being judged and that kind of logic may lead to heightened sensitivity and exhaustion of uncertain results.
Another take on Passion & Obsession
A milder version to look at is- When you feel that life is moving in a direction that is not where you would want to go; be obsessed! Obsession can give you the right drive to steer in the right direction. But when the obsession to control leads to anxiety, it is better to seek help.
Whatever drives you to be who you want, Passion or Obsession, be confident and obsessed about making things better for yourself. The important aspect is to know the subtle line to differentiate between passion and obsession.
Do you think that passionate love can be an obsession?
A mother of two, Preeti Bhandari is a colloquial writer. She believes in simple living which reflects in her writings. As the Editor of Narisakti, she intends to use her vast experience to propel this platform to a cult status among entrepreneurial networks.
When not writing she is quilling, both with paper and thoughts.
good job keep it up.. your thoughts are very good..