Tag Archives: personal-development

Passion

Posted on by
Reply

There is a misconception about the relationship between emotion and passion.   

Both might be considered sources of energy, enthusiasm and effort in the context of performance.  But truth be told,  they are neither equal nor interchangeable. 

When it comes to impacting performance, emotion is like kindling.  Twigs, branches, scrap lumber.  Remnants of something fallen. Leftovers of things that used to grow, and sustain life. Now? Readily combustible. Prone to sudden ignition. Just waiting to be lit.  And given certain conditions, situations or settings – elements that can be dangerous.  Exhibiting the potential to erupt into an uncontrollable flame.  Kindling – like emotion – can burn white hot in an instant,  spread rapidly without  regard for its surroundings and consume all in its path. Even ultimatley,  consuming itself. 

Emotion follows whatever happens to start it and then feed it, but only for that moment, burning a path wherever it happens to be led. More often than not it comes as a response without regard for consequence, leading to actions built on misdirected energy, focus and intention.  Haphazard. Indiscriminate. And entirely unsustainable.  Much like kindling, pure emotion can behave absent of any purpose other than to consume.  Entirely contingent on the right setting, circumstance and source for ignition. A reaction for reaction’s sake alone. 

Passion, on the other hand, is an altogether different kind of energy source. 

It is more akin to oak, maple or birch. Hardwoods, that grow sturdy in the elements, forged by the relentless challenges of the environment, weathering the storms of each season. Made to soldier on despite drought, flood, blizzard or injury to limb.  Unlike the scattered forces of emotion, passion – like the oak – is an entity that is firmly grounded. Its roots are set deep and poised for growth.  Passion is about exerting one’s full intention no matter the elements.  Maximizing capacity regardless of the environment.   Soldiering on, above and beyond each and every obstacle raised.  

True passion is a fuel that is meant to be stoked by purpose.  

One made present in a form that can be tempered contingent on the circumstance.  Like seasoned oak, passion is intended to burn for the long run.  Capable of sustaining a high level of energy for a relentless drive that commands a consistent and persistent release over time without condition. Passion is a source of energy that is made to be delivered with precision. Producing light when things look their darkest.  Enhancing clarity in moments of truth.  The catalyst that  forges steel.   

Emotion alone is incapable of sustaining this kind of effort.  Only passion is equal to this task.  

Don’t get me wrong, emotion is important.  It is an integral part of our personal infrastructure. An element well suited to ignite new ventures.  

But in the context of the life-long pursuit of achievement, success and excellence, emotion can only take you so far. It may enable you to perform briefly at a high level. But only in the correct setting, proper circumstance and timing.  Emotion is dispensed in unsustainable, sporadic bursts.  Moments that once extinguished, are out.  

And gone for good. 

Passion is the only genuine and self-perpetuating source of energy for all that you choose to accomplish.  It is born of your mindset. One grown in the open, exposed to the harshest conditions and unrelenting environments.  Only passion girds you to weather the storms of the season, keeping you firmly grounded, roots set deep,  poised for growth.  

Passion is all about exerting your full intention no matter the elements or the competition.  Maximizing your capacity regardless of the environment.   

Passion leads you to soldier on, above and beyond each and every obstacle raised.  

So before you take that field tomorrow night, head to the office or look to find your role. by all means, light that fire. Stoke it white hot with a level of emotion reserved for each day of the week.  

But then, as things happen, good or bad, be sure that you feed others with your passion.  Guide your collective energies with intention.  Drive yourself forward with purpose. Soldier on, as one, above and beyond each and every obstacle raised.

Fuel your performance as one with something more sustaining than just kindling. 

Rippling

Posted on by
Reply

When intention fully employed and acted upon intersects with an unflinching level of intensely personal investment, the result can be exponential.  The product of you becoming a positive force multiplier.  

An entity ever rippling outward.

You see, nothing we ever do in life exists in a vacuum. Your thoughts, words and actions convey your precise intention and personal investment to the public in every venture you pursue.  Things that you hold dear are revealed to all each step you take to achieve it.  Everything is seen, heard and felt by all of those around you.   

The positive force of your choice, action and effort has the potential to be multiplied when those who witness that change in you then choose to embark upon a similar course and make it their very own.  

That being said, when you push beyond physical limitations, imagined boundaries of comfort and personal obstacles, others will be led to do the same. 

When you exert the mental acuity needed to eliminate distractions, have a short memory when it comes to mistakes and you can “be” totally  present, others will witness those outcomes and choose to travel right down that same path along with you. 

By stripping yourself of limitations imposed by selfish interests, the constraints of ego and moving beyond “me” to unleash a positive and lasting energy that can only be found in “we”, you will articulate a selflessness meant to be embraced and emulated by all. 

Display the courage to give up yourself so that others may become the best version of themselves? Then all will be raised up  – as well as you – in the process.

And finally, when you love your teammates and those around you enough to make them the center of your universe, you  will be an exemplar of faith in them. An avenue to return your love of them with the same depth and  commitment back to you.

So as you embark on the next step of your quest to become what you were intended to be, appreciate the positive force multiplier that lies within each one of you. 

Understand how intention and investment cannot exist in a vacuum. 

And that the impact of the intersection of your intentional action and your limitless investment therein is seen, heard and felt across all of your universe.

An entity rippling ever outward. 

Discovering life’s passion on the LOS

Posted on by
Reply

The helmet and pads came off for the last time in Beloit forty-four years ago. And  to this day, I remain 65, an O-lineman. Yet true to that slice of heaven; the line of scrimmage. There were inklings back then, ongoing thoughts thereafter, followed by a steady flow of contemplation. All of which collaborated to assert one absolute truth: it is what made me who I am today. 

Now there are many aspects of the game.  Mine happened to take residence in the box. And two fundamental elements running in parallel, at two different depths, conjoined to make it the  greatest ever invented.  

First, there is the passion that circulates throughout the game itself.  

The oftentimes brutal physical nature of competition between our five and theirs. Knock down, drag out brawls on every play, in that box. Contusions, scrapes, strains, breaks, tears and blood were all part of the agreement, confirmed via handshake after the game. But without a doubt, this  was what we looked forward to in the weight room over the winter, throughout the week in practice, leading to those glorious Saturday afternoons. 

Yes it was fun.  But more so it was pure joy. The residue of which could be felt until that following Wednesday.

Then within that framework of the game, was yet another element. That something that permeated to your core; a passion for what it demanded of and from you as a person. True, it extracted from you.  But at the same token it replenished you, on a deeply personal, emotional, mental and spiritual level.  You see, being on the line of scrimmage gave back ten fold of what it took, in an unparalleled manner. 

Yes, it was a game. But it proved to be much more than that. Each opportunity granted, lesson learned and affirmation supplied possessed a gravity all their own. 

Like becoming one who gladly accepts the weight of the moment being granted. 

Shunning the spotlight. 

Leaving it all out there for those on your left or right. 

Embracing your failure on the play before as impetus for your success in those yet to come.  

Valuing a level of perseverance garnered by enduring exhaustingly hard work.  

Appreciating your role as one who paves the way for others to succeed.

As time passed, these and many more of the gifts granted during those precious moments on the LOS became more apparent as they weaved themselves into the fabric of life off the field.  Confirming the veracity of their mass in substantial and lasting fashions. 

Such as accepting and engaging the weight of all responsibilities in all manner and form, arriving on their time, yet touching every aspect of your being.  

Discovering the value of humility through promoting others. 

Freely giving of oneself without any expectation or desire of return. 

Knowing that there is much to be learned in defeat – whether personal or professional – and that  your response to that event  will eventually lead you back to the outcome you desire; victory. 

Mustering oneself to embrace personal sacrifice and persevere, regardless of the cost, to improve, grow and become what you are meant to be. 

Providing empathy, care, attention and love that will ensure the safety, security and success of those all around.

It has been said that football is the game of life.  A statement of fact to which many will attest.  

This O-lineman suggests that it is taught in numerous, lasting and most compelling fashions – particularly at the line of scrimmage.  Lessons that continue to emerge from that original classroom, bound to a core curriculum, taught on a field that is now being professed in the home, at work, in the community and throughout the world.  

The last snap was 44 years ago. 

Age and infirmity aside, if given another chance, the passion to play remains. An offer would be very difficult to pass on rejoining this pastime. That passion still remains.

Fortunately, the LOS still remains ingrained within. A space I will occupy throughout the rest of my life.  That perpetual source of passion that runs to my core.  An avenue to now teach the lessons embraced while on it.

Defining one’s true purpose.