“Passion is the spark that lights the fire. Purpose is the kindling that keeps it burning all night.”

(Brianna West)

 

“Logic is the foundation of the certainty of all the knowledge we acquire.”

(Leonard Euler)

 

I’ve always been very passionate, making decisions based on emotions rather than logic. My impulsiveness has gotten me into trouble a few times, such as falling in love with a bad boy who swept me away with his poems and adventurous free spirit. I rejected good men because they didn’t ignite my passionate spirit.

Can you think of a time in your life when you made a decision based on passion (impulsivity/emotions) rather than logic, which you later regretted?

Did you purchase a sexy but expensive sports car instead of the reliable boring Sedan?

Did you choose your college major based on something you were passionate about rather than the opportunities it would provide you with?

Most of us have been victims of our passion, which is normal because emotions govern our mental state and drive our decision-making process.

 

What’s the difference between passion and logic, and how does it affect our lives?

 

Passion

• We use passion to drown uncomfortable emotions.

Following our passion can be exciting, but the pitfall is that we typically try to run away from painful situations, stress, sadness, unhappiness, depression, or lack of purpose.

My backpacking trip was something l felt passionate about, but it was an escape from the fact that I felt utterly lost after graduating from High School. Running away to visit exotic places sounded like the perfect thing to do in the hopes I would find myself. Well, I saw a lot of amazing architecture and stunningly beautiful landscapes, some creepy animals (if you are afraid of deadly snakes don’t go to Australia 😉 ) and met some cool people, but I came home with no direction for my future. If you use passion as an escape, or to fill a void in your life, reality will hit you like a brick wall.

•   Passion is often unrealistic.

Unfortunately, a lot of ideas fail because they are based on passion but not backed up by logic.

Sometimes, I dream about becoming an entrepreneur, but most of my ideas are things I’m passionate about (like traveling, coffee, chocolate, writing, reading, dogs, nature, hiking) but logically they might seem like a fairy tale rather than a good business idea. Please don’t stop dreaming because it seems like a childish idea. Those who dare to pursue their dreams make this world more exciting.

•  Passion is tied to emotions, which can disappear quickly. 

Deciding based on passion can quickly backfire because impulsive thinking ignores rationality. That’s why you regret buying the expensive shoes on sale or kissing your sexy coworker at a Christmas party only to realize that you will see him every day at work….awkward!

Emotions are fleeting like clouds; if you make a big life decision let your emotions pass before you make a choice.

•  Passion makes you think your life is boring.

While sitting in my office cubicle, performing the same boring job task, my mind wandered to the “What if?”

What if I had pursued my passion rather than a safe reliable job? Would my life be less boring and more exciting?

“What if” is another form of regret, which can spiral down to dissatisfaction and sometimes even self-hatred.

Passion is like a distorted lens that makes you doubt everything, your romantic relationship, your job, or the missed opportunities in life.

•  Passion is like a distorted lens that makes you doubt your purpose.

I can still remember the first time I picked up a Psychology Book. I was very young, and Sigmund Freud’s words sounded gibberish, but I believed this must be the holy grail of human knowledge. I was convinced that becoming a psychologist would be a noble and purposeful job. I studied hard to become a therapist only to realize that it wasn’t my cup of tea. I’ve always been passionate about Psychology, which made me question my life purpose after giving up on a dream I worked so hard for.

After years of contemplation, and surviving the dark days, I realized that your purpose does not necessarily have to be tied to something you are passionate about. Purpose can be anything that excites you to get up in the morning and energizes you to do something meaningful with your life.

•  Passion makes life more exciting and intriguing.

 I couldn’t imagine life without passion, it would be dull and uninspiring. Passion is the fuel for new endeavors, adventures, and romances. Passion is the catalyst that motivates us to work on our goals or pursue our dreams.

 

“Passion is the fire, enthusiasm, and courage that an individual feels doing something that he or she loves while accomplishing worthy ends, something that satisfies his or her deepest needs.”

   (Stephen R Covey)

 Logic

• Gratitude is born out of logic.

Gratitude reminds us that behind every gray cloud, a ray of sunshine is trying to brighten our dark days. Logic will help us identify what we can be grateful for, even if it’s just something mundane like having a roof over our heads.

What are you grateful for right now?

•  Logic can help you dispute irrational thoughts.

If you never had an irrational thought you are perfect and don’t need to read my blog….LOL 😉

Unfortunately, irrational thinking is interwoven in our complex thought process. Logical thinking can help you dispute those annoying (often self-sabotaging) irrational thoughts, which can be caused by low self-esteem or depression.

•  Logic helps you identify if you “really” want what you want.

 The job of a model or a successful lawyer seems intriguing and glamorous, but there is a price tag for anything. Most of us want to have a nice body so we can feel more confident in our clothes or attract a potential mate, but when logic kicks in you find out that the price for an amazing body (give up sugar and junk food, exercise, etc.) is not worth the effort.

We can use logic to find out what we truly desire. If it’s not worth the effort it’s not important to you. It’s always been my dream to open up a coffee shop/book store but when I found out that I would have to get up early to open up my coffee shop I changed my mind quickly….as you can guess I’m not an early morning person 😆

•  Logic can help you prevent regretful decisions.

I’m an emotional shopper, which I’m not proud of, but in my defense, our brains are wired to justify impulsive actions because we don’t want to feel bad. I tried many strategies to overcome my emotional shopping, such as deleting apps or letting items sit in the cart for days, but most of the time my impulsiveness wins. Logical thinking can help prevent those purchases or actions that we later regret. Logic activates rational thinking, which can help us identify what we need or don’t need.

 

If you are a passionate person like me, it’s not easy to switch on your logical thinking. Passion is fueled by desire; when we get what we desire we feel exhilarated and constantly want to re-create that feeling. Hence, shopping can be so addictive!

I couldn’t imagine not being a passionate person, otherwise this blog wouldn’t exist.

If we can be wise in choosing when to use logic or passion, life can still be exciting, adventurous, colorful, and inspiring but without the feeling of regret.

 

Be passionate about embracing your authentic self, creating meaningful relationships, waking up with purpose, and living life to the fullest 🌻