While I think most people who know us would consider me to be the less passive/more passionate of the two of us, I utterly understand what you are saying. I so rarely feel drowned or overwhelmed by emotions--even when I probably am, I tend to be able to see a beachhead in the surf where I remain yet untouched by my own internal drama. At times I feel I put people off through my detachment. At times I HAVE put people off through my detachment. I also (wrongly, I ruefully admit) feel that because I have that beachhead, that I am less bowled over by the emotion than I probably actually am.
I am rarely a fan of the people who always seem to be smacked around by the tides, and who wail about it. Captain up! I think. Whose in charge of this ocean? It's a false feeling, lacking in compassion. I try to do better.
But that's about me, not about you. What I'm trying to say is, yes, I get what you're saying.
Here's the thing, though.
Passion. The root word is about suffering. The passion of Christ, right? I don't want passion.
( ... )
Momoko is truly a mysterious being, but I am just a man, so I don't expect to understand her.
As for Passion, I have been told I have a surplus of it, and it certainly has caused more harm than good; to me, to others, to my progress as a spiritually mature being. If I could trade it all for some equanimity, I would do it.
I wish I were more like Momoko.
Every time something difficult happens in our lives, she always handles it better.
Even if she doesn't quite have the balance right, she is closer to perfect than me.
The etymological root of passion is an interesting point. I have often been told that I'm entirely too dispassionate, which may in the final analysis be a good thing. Engagement is definitely a better goal than passion per se; I have had quite good results with greater engagement over the past few years. I think that activity and passion are two orthogonal measures which can net the same results: both can (as you say) lead to nothing but wasted motion.
This morning I read an interesting article about the Copenhagen climate summit which talked about how many of the demonstrators were there simply as an outlet for their passion, rather than to achieve a result. Unfortunately I think that's a pretty common result in a lot of areas of activity, and with a lot of things people are passionate about.
I have to say I found this post fascinating. Keep it up! :)
hmm. I am not sure that bliss and passion are separate things. Nor am I certain that passion and calmness are opposites. In conversation with an offline friend, she pointed out that drama and passion are not same things (when I pointed out that our cultural reference points for passion are often very *dramatic*) and we came to an agreement that passion also involves persistance. If you cannot marry passion with persistance then is it just infatuation? And persistance always involves making choices about use of time/energy/attention which can feel like suffering if one is not clear in one's head about the larger picture.
Might I suggest Personality Plus? Everyone has a different mix of the pwersonality archetypes. I myself often wonder how I will every find the burning motivation that other people seem to find. Its not in my personality to get fired up about things.
mad woman? nay I saynamaste_boundDecember 16 2009, 14:28:49 UTC
Only an introspective, individual, independent, creative lady. Your musings (so glad you shared) as they catalyze thought, about what a profound being you are and about what kind of being am I. (because, as a human, and an American (like it or not) to boot, it is tough to not bring all that I experience back to me
( ... )
Comments 6
I am rarely a fan of the people who always seem to be smacked around by the tides, and who wail about it. Captain up! I think. Whose in charge of this ocean? It's a false feeling, lacking in compassion. I try to do better.
But that's about me, not about you. What I'm trying to say is, yes, I get what you're saying.
Here's the thing, though.
Passion. The root word is about suffering. The passion of Christ, right? I don't want passion. ( ... )
Reply
Momoko is truly a mysterious being, but I am just a man, so I don't expect to understand her.
As for Passion, I have been told I have a surplus of it, and it certainly has caused more harm than good; to me, to others, to my progress as a spiritually mature being. If I could trade it all for some equanimity, I would do it.
I wish I were more like Momoko.
Every time something difficult happens in our lives, she always handles it better.
Even if she doesn't quite have the balance right, she is closer to perfect than me.
Reply
This morning I read an interesting article about the Copenhagen climate summit which talked about how many of the demonstrators were there simply as an outlet for their passion, rather than to achieve a result. Unfortunately I think that's a pretty common result in a lot of areas of activity, and with a lot of things people are passionate about.
I have to say I found this post fascinating. Keep it up! :)
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment