Life, with it is intensely enjoyable; in it’s absence, dull and difficult.
It’s the ever present driving force of youth. As we progress we want for it in relationship, wish for it career but few ever fantasize of finding it in fitness.
The “it” is the ultimate intensity of emotion we call Passion.
For those who struggle with sticking to diet and fitness plan, motivation is highly coveted. Few would dare ask for more and that’s just what Passion is—more. It’s another gear that can sky-rocket your progress, make on-track the only way and lift you ever closer to the prize of a sustainable Lifestyle fitness.
In this post I explore Passion; where you’ll find it, and how to tap into it for personal progress.
This post was inspired by the statement on Chris Brogan’s wildly popular blog, “You can’t fake passion.” Chris, who writes on all things business, had visited the distillery Makers Mark and was inspired to share, “What I came away with was…a very strong sense that you can’t fake the level of passion that they put into their brand. It’s not a slapped on after-effect. It’s built in… passion… bottled and shipped.”
Passion brings your life to LIFE. In relationships, creativity, adventure, and yes, even fitness; passion transforms the ordinary into extraordinary.
It’s Passion’s intensity that draws us to athletics, inspirational leaders, talented actors and musicians. What’s music without passion? It’s been seen in the likes of Milli Vanilli and it’s mighty painful to watch.
No you can’t fake passion, and yet fake passion is all around.
What gives?
It’s faked passion you’re subjected to in the over-the-top testimonials on infomercials, in the song lip-synched and it permeates reality TV. Fake passion pushes your buttons, triggering the same “hot spots” as real passion. Hence, it’s your job to stay awake, to be aware and not be manipulated by artificial passion.
I imagine it’s in part the steady exposure to fake passion that made seeing the real-thing so inspiring to Chris. For the real thing has an amazing power.
True Passion is at a premiumfor it can not faked as it comes from the heart, not the head. It can not be created on demand.
I have passion for helping people live fuller, stronger, freer and more vibrantly healthy lives. And I’m often told that this comes through in the books and articles I write, in speaking engagements, interviews, and even in the premium nutrition shake, Full Strength, which nearly all who try it affirm is the best tasting, most fulfilling shake anywhere. If you’re not a fan yet, I invite you to take me up on this free trial offer.
While I’m not absolutely certain that my passion comes through on camera as people have told me, you can see for yourself by checking one of my video series on Putting the Passion in Performance Nutrition here.
If you’ve been at all focused on living a fit, vibrant life I’m sure you’ve known times of great passion and energy, when you enjoyed activities that made staying fit effortless. You probably have also experienced times of arduous challenge—when your training was as inspired as paint-by-numbers.
The difference between these two states is dramatic—as different as night and day.
Just as Chris discovered in his visit to Makers Mark, passion drives performance and results. The people there are passionate about making a great product and trust that this passion will produce the necessary results, e.g. profits. Not only is this a sustainable formula, for satisfaction is built in not something that comes later, but it always outperforms short sighted focus on money first.
This higher aim is perfectly summarized in the phrase: “Pursue excellence, ignore success.”
Just as a business that is centrally focused on money may know some short term good times but is bound to struggle over the long haul; if you’re into fitness for the payout only—to profit either by gaining something, be it recognition, money or other—you’re running on borrowed time and finite energy.
You may see some early returns and get your hopes up but you’ll fall short of earning the freedom of Lifestyle fitness.
This distinction, between the busy “doing” of life and fitness vs. the zen like presence of the person effortlessly “being” that which the “doer” is busy trying to emulate is covered in detail my book, Strength for LIFE.
While motivation and desire may propel the “doer,” true passion is the effortless fuel of the one who is “being” fit. For the “doer” is striving for the result, struggling or sacrificing to get to the end reward while the person “being” finds passion in the activity itself.
For example, should I take on cycling solely to fulfill a commitment or even achieve a goal, I may finish a race through considerable suffering and resistance. And ultimately it’s this resistance that will prevent me from finding the beauty, the perfection, the nirvana in each moment of the ride.
As is often the case in Transformation Challengers, “if I hate myself forward from start to finish, tolerating every painful moment of it, what have I achieved other than a temporary boost to the ego?” They may change their body and gained back their health, but too often times they stop as soon as they finish.
On the other hand, whatever my initial reason for engaging, should I take on a challenge and find my “happy place” along the way—that my life is made better by some aspect of the journey (not simply the destination) I will have revealed my passion and who I am will stand forever changed.
It’s in reaching for the stars while being totally lost in the moment that passion thrives. It’s the flow state of the single rep being done with focus intention on the destination that one awakens freedom.
In the simplest terms: Know where you are going and engage each rep and every moment as if it’s the only one you’ll ever have.
May your passions burn bright and inspire a lifetime of challenge, achievement and contribution.
Until Next Week,
Stay Strong,
Shawn
Follow Me: /Twitter/shawn_phillips
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| About the Author | |
| Author, innovator and expert in Life Performance for two decades, Shawn Phillips is as respected for his physique as his wisdom. Working with his brother Bill (of Body for LIFE fame) he helped create the performance nutrition giant, EAS. For a "how to" guide to a Lifestyle of Fitness Freedom, check out Shawn's most recently instant best-selling book from Bantam BooksStrength for LIFE, called by Next-Level in Transformational Fitness, Here. |
25. January 2010 at 10:48 am
WOW! This is exactly what I have been struggling with. Thank you Shawn for a great dose of encouragement!
25. January 2010 at 10:59 am
I needed to read this … Faking passion can become a really bad habit, especially when others count on you for your passion to lead the way.
This is a great reminder that it is time to reboot myself (12 days) in order to reignite genuine passion for my family, my business and my life so that I can “be” passionate rather than “doing” things in order to appear passionate.
Thanks!