Creating  Passion in the Next Generation

When my grandson was seven, his main interest was around Star Wars. That year his parents gave him a Star Wars themed party which was attended by children ready to fight duels with their laser swards. Though every gift he opened had something to do with Star Wars, no two were alike.  By the end of the day he had enough props to set up his own movie studio and enough themed science kits to turn him into a space scientist.

Observing him become immersed in something he loved to do made me happy for it indicated that he would become an engaged adult. Feeling passion is addictive, similar to being on drugs without negative consequences. My grandson’s commitment provided a focus for learning. It required him to read, to concentrate, to create, and to communicate.  I believe that an important job of parenting involves helping your child find passion by becoming totally hooked on something that has “legs.” By that I mean inspiring a willingness to tackle an engrossing, challenging activity. I don’t think it makes much difference what the project is as long as it is an absorbing one.

In my grandson’s case, interest in Star Wars improved his skills in reading. He was too impatient to wait for his parents to read to him so he pushed himself to learn more on his own. Neighborhood children used to meet in his basement conceiving plots that insured the future of planetary peace. Before performing for their parents and siblings, they had to sequence  stories, memorized parts, and practice speaking to an audience. They also made scenery and  handed out advertising leaflets. I could not have designed a better learning experience if I had been hired to do so. 

Passion is a gift that combines spirit, mind and body enabling life to be experienced in all of its richness. It involves setting goals around something important. Having passion helps overcome obstacles and draws attention to what should be and what can be done. There will always be highs and lows in working towards a goal, but when you are passionate about what you’re doing you’ll look past the dull days and become more likely to conceive creative ways to move on.

Passion is not something to fear, though for a variety of reasons many people do. It’s easy to become overwhelmed and check out before beginning a journey, so it’s important to when starting to set incremental goals, to manage time strategically, and to maintain balance. I’ve known people who never pursued their dreams because they feared the time commitment. I know others who were afraid of failure and some who were fearful  of how success might change them.

Embracing passion is engaging in adventure. It’s opening your mind to let sparks fly. Finding an interest and intensifying your involvement in it is the best way to dissipate fear. Doubts can’t be fed for they will smother fires that glow within. Talk you doubts, write them down and investigate where they came from to help them go away. 

As parent and educator, I’ve always believed that helping children find and develop passion will aid society in the long run.  Finding cures for debilitating diseases, writing a new symphony, fighting global warming and taking political action involves giving time, energy and soul to a cause. Passionate people make things happen. As adults, we can provide our children with engrossing opportunities that engender excitement and give pleasure so as adults they will crave to arouse similar feelings throughout their lives.

References: 

Harmer, S. (2-19) 10 Reasons why Following Your Passion is More Important than Money. Lifehack. retrieved from https://www.lifehack.org/articles/money/10-reasons-why-following-your-passion-more-important-than-money.html

Carver,<. (2019) Why you Need Passion to Reach Your Goals. The Chopra Center. retrieved from https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search;_ylt=AwrWpywK7FZd3DUAAB8PxQt.;_ylu=X3oDMTEza3NiY3RnBGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNwYWdpbmF0aW9u?p=Achieving+passion&type=cl_appfocus531_cr&fr2=sb-top&hspart=adk&hsimp=yhs-adk_sbnt&param1=20190624&param2=fb58e1e6-408c-4546-bdb7-f62c02cea1da&param3=classifieds_%7EUS%7Eappfocus531&param4=4847-bb9%7EChrome%7Ebrian+norris+about+passion+flower%7E7B1F017D4CDFA6D6A9BB35F8264A536C&fr=yhs-adk-adk_sbnt&b=11&pz=10&bct=0&xargs=0

Carter,S (2013) The Power of Passion. Psychology Today. retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/high-octane-women/201304/the-power-passion

Flaxington,B.  (2018) Finding Your Passion. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/understand-other-people/201806/finding-your-passion

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