PASSION

Hello!
Today I'll be talking about passion and how it can be a driving force behind achieving any task in life.

According to Oxford dictionary, passion is defined as:

• Any great, strong, powerful, especially romantic love or hate.
• determination.
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/passionate

I want to share a conversation about passion with a friend that changed my perception of passion.
I engaged in a conversation with an old time friend who I was opportune to meet on my way to purchase groceries in a grocery store along my lane. We had been very good friends in our primary and elementary School and we where fortunate to attend the same secondary school. I can say that we've known each other for about 10years.

We spoke at length the day we met with regards almost every aspect of our lives. We had been doing things together and we had a whole lot to talk about because many things must have happened during the period of time were apart, beginning from memories of our school days experience to what we had both missed in our different higher institution experience.

As the discussion progressed, I asked him what he's been up to lately and his discipline of study? and he replied "Nothing much, basically joggling my academic. Well by the grace of God, I'm studying Medicine and Surgery". I was very grateful to God and excited, knowing how difficult it could be to study such discipline in the system. We got talking and I asked him what he's choice of specialty would be? and he replied "Neurosurgery".

I ask further to know his drive and passion for the specialty and he's response was " I love to know more about about the brain and how that it control the entire activity of the human body and moreover I'm studying the specialty because they're well paid". The stress and emphasis he laid on the fact that money is involved changed my mood and I thought of why he'll prioritize money to passion.

I thought that was a bad motive and might not give me a safe landing.
Jimmy is a good friend I thought... and I decided to air my view and thought... So I asked him, why would you make money the base of your motivation? He gazed at me for a while, laughed and said " If there were no money involved, there won't be a determination and there won't be passion.

I thought to argue, thinking that wasn't fair; pursuing money out of greed without considering the fact that he'll be dealing with people's life.

When he observed closely and realized that my countenance had change greatly, he suggested we should stroll a bit so that we can find a place to sit and deliberate for a while. When we were settled, he told me that he wasn't greedy. He tried explaining to my understanding that if there is no goal, a beneficial one at that, he won't put in much effort in accomplishing it.

In his words, "I'm not rendering charity services and even if I were, it's different from my job". He explained further saying that one of his major drive is the money involved. He'll bear all the stress, burn his candle throughout the night to read and attend all lectures to ensure that he acquires all the necessary knowledge to meet his goals. He asked would it be stressful? "Yes", but he said.... My gaze and focus is on the finishing line and I'll refuse to be distracted by mere challenges but I'll rather draw strength from my passion.

In his advice, he said, you can direct where your passion lies and place priority on it; go for what you want and develop passion for the best. Don't ever settle for less.

Like Jimmy rightly said, passion is a great determinant of success and where there is passion, you'll find strength to do things extraordinarily.
I learnt that we should not be doing things because everyone is doing it but be determined and identify the driving force which builds our passion because that's where we'll find the staying power through the thick and thins of life challenges.