Irrespective of what we do in life or what we achieve, a pang of desire to get more always remains. Perhaps, only a select section of people can "call themselves satisfied without silted up regrets". But the question remains: What price do we pay by following our passion?
Chase excellence, success will follow you is an inspirational and motivational sentence, as the word motivation is itself. Whenever we feel burned out and think that we have no energy left to move an inch forward, an inner voice often tells us- it is better to be the king of your hell than be a beggar in some other's paradise; follow your passion. Come one! Get up.
Follow your passion! This statement sounds cool, isn't it?
But have you ever considered assessing the price we often pay while following our passions?
Nothing comes for free. Everything comes with a price! Yes, everything comes with a price. So what is the price one must pay for following one's passion?
"I have lost out on several high-paying jobs because I wanted to follow my passion for art," a friend told me when I asked him.
"Do you regret it?" I asked.
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"No. Not at all. I am at peace. Apart from some sporadic thoughts of what if, if I had, I don't regret at all," he replied.
"But then, why that small regret of what if, if I had?"
"Basic human nature, I would say. We are never satisfied, or are we?"
Well, to an extent, he is right. Irrespective of what we do in life or what we achieve, a pang of desire to get more always remains.
Perhaps, only a select section of people can "call themselves satisfied without silted up regrets".
But the question remains: What price do we pay by following our passion?
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If we follow our passion with a focused mind, then we don't pay a price but earn a prize. We pay the price only when we do things in the wrong way.
Decipher this thin line between price and prize as early as you can.
If ever in your mind you think that "you are paying the price for following your passion", then let yourself know loud and clear that "you are not following your passion. It is just a mirage you are after."
Passion means passion, and there can't be an alternative to it.
Passion is something that drives you crazy, and it energizes you.
It can never be a reason for our fatigue.
Making our commentators restless and envious is the price we pay by following our passion with zeal.
Unless your commentators are not envious of you or haven't started murmuring at your back, don't stop; keep walking ahead and following your passion.
You are yet to pay the price!
Partha Prawal (Goswami) is a Guwahati-based journalist who loves to write about entertainment, sports, and social and civic issues among others. He is also a published author.