By Sharifatu Ja’afaru (Deputy Student Editor)
Do you have a vision of who you will like to be? Do you have a burning desire to achieve that vision? Or a yearning for a target you consider satisfactory to your future aspiration?
If not, start dreaming of a bright future. I agree with John Maxwell when he says “if there is no passion in the picture, then your vision isn’t transferable; it is just a pleasant snapshot.” Frederic Amelia added, “without passion man is a mere latent force and a possibility, like the flint which awaits the shock of the iron before it can give forth its spark””
Similarly, John Mason said, “God has put inside every person the potential to be passionate. One individual with passion is greater than the passive force of ninety-nine whom only have an interest”. Have you once thought about what makes an athlete to wake up before dawn even in cold weather to train? Or what motivates all the rigour of gymnastics to which footballers subject themselves in training?
It is simply a passion for excellence. It is the compelling force, the drive, the motivational incentive behind every success story. It is passion that shapes and motivates our love for something. One of the big blessings of living in a democracy is the ability to pursue one’s own path and the idea that anyone can pick him or herself up by the bootstraps and achieve great things.
Passion shapes our existence, fuels the fires of inspiration and opens us up to opportunities and changes around us. Passion will make a man spend hours in a profitable exercise to achieve good success. It will encourage any diligent learner to set goals, plan and pursue the goals to excel in life. Passion is an incredible asset for any person. When a person doesn’t have passion, life can become pretty monotonous.
At some point in our lives, we may find ourselves at a crossroad. Passion or profession? Which path should one take? It depends. Of course, survival and success are inescapably connected to work, but we have the luxury of deciding how fulfilling our day-to-day work is going to be.
I am convinced that the people who are best at what they do tend to be the ones that love it the most. Passion comes when you are being your authentic self and doing what comes naturally to you. When what you do is in alignment with who you are, you get energy from doing it. Doing what you love and doing what is in alignment with your purpose will be the thing that will motivate you to jump out of bed in the morning and look forward to the day ahead.
Passion enables us to overcome obstacles. Whether those obstacles are actual or imagined, with passion you will overcome them and see the world as a place of infinite potential. The power of passion also enables us to have self-confidence, trust ourselves and to take the risks required to live everyday to its fullest.
Living with passion is about having the courage to express your thoughts, opinions, convictions and your love for life. That love for life comes because you live a life by design, not by default. Following your passion enables you to do so. That is the power of passion.
Dare to imagine what living a life filled with passion is like. Imagine the possibilities, dare to live your dream and dare to actually search for what you love. Know that it is not only a probability but a possibility to live with passion.
How you live your life is your choice, don’t let anyone dictate to you what you are going to do with your life. If you are a student going into the university, don’t let your family dictate your future. Think of yourself. Fast forward and imagine yourself on your death bed.
Will you regret the path you have taken in your life because of the wrong choices made that you didn’t take action on? Know what you want and pursue it through honest means it in any way you can. Positive passion is an elixir for a fulfilling and successful life. Develop yours!
