The word ‘passion’ is one that gets thrown around a lot.
- “I’m passionate about my job”.
- “I’m passionate about reading”.
- “We’re looking for someone passionate about [X industry]”.
- “The passion just isn’t there anymore”.
We have all heard these phrases a thousand times over, and at first glance, there’s nothing wrong with them. But have you ever stopped to think what the word really means? What are people truly intending to communicate when they talk about passion, and how does passion differ from ideas such as interest, desire, or love?
Etymology & Origins
I always find looking at the etymology of words very interesting, because the evolution of a word will often highlight the cultural changes that occurred in tandem. For passion, it’s origins take us back over 2,000 years, to the death of Jesus Christ. In particular, the Passion of Christ.
The Passion of Christ refers to the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus, specifically focusing on the events during his final days.
From this, we can derive the modern English word of ‘passion’, from the Latin word ‘pati’, which means to suffer.
Apart from the religious dogma, I can’t help but wonder how on earth we derived the modern applications of the word passion from ultimate suffering?
Modern Usage
Modern definitions for passion will often be associated with heightened emotions and states, such as:
- strong and barely controllable emotion
- a state or outburst of emotion
- intense sexual love
- a thing arousing enthusiasm
These uses of the word are something we are highly accustomed to, and there is nothing wrong with them, per se. However, there is a notably strong contrast between these expressions and the original meaning to suffer. So, I wonder how we got here, and what we might we have lost along the way with the estrangement from the original definition.
Passion, in modern terms, is colloquially used in favourable contexts, whereas the original meaning is quite literally on the opposite end of the spectrum of human experience. Does this evolution highlight society’s growing obsession with pleasure and satisfaction being the optimal states of living a good life, or is it just a general reflection of how humans today perceive the world compared to those of the past?
Below is a Google Ngram Viewer for the term passion, which is a tool that allows you to explore language usage trends over time by searching through a vast collection of books, documents, and other textual sources.
The use of the term goes through three distinct phases, from 1820-1919, 1920-1979, and 1980-present.
Passion from 1820-1919
Passion in the 19th century would have been used largely in the religious context, staying close to its original roots. The language would orient towards religious or sacrificial attitudes, and Christianity was still culturally dominant in the West during this period. However, the Enlightenment and Victorian era were also emerging during this era, which promoted ideals around rationality, restraint, and moral order. The ‘stability’ of the word and public perception around the word were strongly challenged, and would eventually lead to the decline of religious cultural dominance, as well as passion and sacrifice being seen as ideals to live up to.
Passion from 1920-1979
Much of the 20th century was plagued with international wars, economic depression, and in the latter half of the century - hysteria over nuclear annihilation. From a global context, things weren’t looking so hot (pun intended), and the culture definitely reflected that.
Despite widespread fear and suffering, the literature did not reflect the same levels of passion as the previous century. This can be largely attributed to the dismissal of Christianity and religion in the West, and while there certainly was pain and suffering, people did not turn to the same figures and symbolism as they used to, which used to embody nobility and virtue in the willingness to “bear your cross”.
In spite of these catastrophic events, there were several cultural revolutions that occurred during the latter half of this period: the civil rights movement, the sexual revolution, and Rock & Roll. An era of global danger, turmoil, and instability were capped by movements spearheading individual rights, freedoms, and expression.
Passion from 1980-Present
‘Passion’ likely converged to it’s modern usage during this time, as the 80’s and onwards saw a rise in economic prosperity and pop culture. The internet was born during this period, and social media propagated the widespread idea that happiness and pleasure were the ultimate ends in life. Secularism and hedonism emerged as cultural pillars, and so naturally, how we think about concepts like passion - that were once associated with religious foundations - will inevitably drift from its origins.
Words, definitions, and ultimately language itself are bound to change and evolve over time, so it’s not unexpected for the original use of the word and today’s use to diverge. With all of that said, why should you care about any of this to begin with?
The Dilution Problem
Scrutinizing the use of the word today is not about policing speech, or reserving it for a certain kind of person or activity. To be clear, passion is something anyone is capable of experiencing, in their own unique manner, and way of navigating the world.
The idea behind examining this difference between old and new is not about gatekeeping, but should be seen as an invitation to examine more honestly where the true definition lies, and what can be unlocked for the individual when one slows down to think about it.
The word ‘passion’ gets thrown around in every day speech: over brunch with friends , when discussing weekend hobbies, and on LinkedIn. Talking about work, social activities, and personal hobbies can bring a lot of engagement and joy for an individual, and so being able to celebrate those moments with others through language is important. However, there should be a distinction made between experiences that provide means to fun and pleasure, versus experiences that are food for the human soul. Having things in one’s life that instills an interest, hobby, curiosity, or enthusiasm, should be seen as a privilege in one’s life to hold closely. However, these privileges do not compete with the weight of what it truly means to be passionate about something.
Being truly passionate about something is akin to the experiences of love, devotion, and even grief (perhaps they are all intertwined… to be further explored later on). When we casually use these sorts of words in conversation without reservation, there is a real human cost.
The difference in magnitude between loving my girlfriend and “loving” what I ate for lunch today is self-evident, but the weighting of the word is still etched away every time we throw it around casually. It is for the same reason that we have drifted from the meaning of an event such as the Passion of Christ, to being able to say that I am passionate about word puzzles in my free time.
Honouring the power of the word and it’s relation to suffering - it’s original meaning - preserves the gravity and sacredness the concept itself holds. Having distinction between these ideas is important for individuals because it provides a framework for decision making, and understanding what things in your life are worth suffering for. When the word loses its weight, people lose access to the more profound and hopeful truth that there are things in life worth suffering for, and that finding them is in itself meaningful.
No One Wants Suffering… So, Why Talk About It?
We all know what suffering feels like. It is the embodiment of all things wrong in this world; it is the direct consequence of evil, loss, and pain.
Suffering is suddenly losing a loved one in a car accident.
Suffering is cancer.
Suffering is dealing with illness that inhibits your ability to enjoy everyday life.
Suffering is being hurt by someone who had direct intentions of harming you.
Suffering is facing abuse from a parent that is supposed to love you.
Suffering is experiencing betrayal by the person you took the risk of being vulnerable with.
Suffering is picking yourself back up after a break up you never thought was going to happen.
Suffering is wandering without a purpose, lacking any sense of meaning in your life.
Everyone has their own unique version of suffering in their life, but no one would ever dare to question the presence of suffering in someone else’s. Suffering itself might be one of the most universal human experiences, plaguing us since the formation of human consciousness itself.
Knowing all of this, the natural response to suffering and pain is avoidance. But avoidance is simply an illusion that doesn’t transcend suffering itself; it simply provides temporary relief from the pain we are experiencing.
If avoidance is not the solution to suffering, then perhaps the question isn’t how to escape it, but what to do with it. Being open about our suffering and trying to develop an understanding of where our suffering comes from creates a window of opportunity to transcend it. This implies our suffering is something that needs to be taken on head first.
Suffering is a Feature, Not a Bug
Suffering is not something that is accidental, optional, or removable. The focus thus far has been around passion, and it’s relation to suffering; however, there is another important dimension that serves as the fundamental basis for all human suffering: entropy.
Entropy is the measure of molecular disorder, randomness, or unavailable energy in a closed thermodynamic system.
In simpler terms, entropy quantifies the tendency of natural systems to move from ordered states to disordered, chaotic states, often described as the "arrow of time". Entropy is what creates natural chaos and disorder in any system. It is a governing law of the universe we live in, and can be observed at each level of the universe; from the smallest interactions happening at the atomic level, to cosmic scales, affecting stars, constellations, and galaxies.
Entropy at the Atomic Level
Imagine you have a cup of water, and you put a few drops of blue and red food colouring into the cup. The two colours will start off in their own distinct streams, but when left alone, will naturally fill in the gaps of clear water, as well as mix with each other to form a purple mix. This effect occurs independent from any external influence, serving as a visual example of entropy at play.
The colours mix on their own because the water molecules have energy, which causes them to randomly collide with each other in space. These collisions are what propagate the randomness of the mix, and across time, the cup of water will emerge as a homogenous mix of purple-coloured water. The mixing shows the randomness and disorder of the system - which is important to note - is an irreversible process, barring any external influence on the system that might try and separate the mixed food colouring.
Entropy in the Cosmos
On the other end of the scale, we can observe entropy at the cosmic level. Stars are the most enduring, luminous, and seemingly permanent objects we can perceive. Yet, even they are dying. Every star is a hot ball of gas that emits high levels of radiation into the surrounding space as it ages. This contributes to the decay of the star itself as it consumes its own source of nuclear gases. If we fast forward to billions of years from now, every star will eventually burn out and the universe will reach a state of maximum entropy or “heat death”, where no energy flows and no further work can be done.
Entropy, and it’s Relation to Suffering
Entropy applies to every process in existence, from the tiniest atoms, to the largest celestial bodies - and we are not exempt. Entropy applies to human life as well, with suffering being the direct consequence of the impact entropy has on our lives.
Take relationships for example; they require a constant flow of time, effort, and energy to maintain communication, cohesion, and understanding with your partner. When people stop putting in the work to nurture the relationship, we can immediately see the effects; complacency, mistrust, and even resentment can build as people often live their lives in their own head, and can naturally drift when the effort is not put in to maintain alignment. Relationships require constant energy and effort just to maintain order, and even then, entropy is always pulling in the other direction.
Every system that humans operate within - relationships, personal health, career, etc. - are subject to entropy. Thus, randomness, chaos, and disorder are a natural phenomenon of the world we live in. When these same things come into one’s life, they create gaps in how we perceive our own potential, environment, and sense of safety. Entropy is universal, and so is suffering.
Don’t Run from Your Suffering
As previously highlighted, the act of trying to avoid suffering itself is pointless. Trying to avoid suffering is like trying to evade the oxygen that surrounds your body at every moment. Trying to run from one’s own suffering is an illusion that only inhibits the possibility of ever transcending it, and at best, merely provides temporary distraction and relief from the suffering itself.
We will often try to respond to our suffering by pursuing lives of hedonism, built on the premise of fun, pleasure, and the absolution of responsibility. However, this track will only take you so far. This way of living can act as a genuine form of distraction, but it can never fill the void when suffering knocks at the door.
At some point in your life - if you have not already - you will face hardships with your health, loved ones, career, relationships, and higher sense of purpose. Aspiring to a life of leisure will not act as a sufficient counterbalance to these moments of trial. For example, when your health is challenged, it is very difficult to enjoy yourself, even outside the actual moments of pain. When your relationships are challenged, it is tough to think about anything outside of the rifts that exist between you and those people. One needs to dig deeper to find a weight that will act as a worthy equal and opposite force to suffering. A weight that can stand tall through the hardest of times, and is grounded in something that cannot be shaken.
Reclaiming ‘Passion’
When I first read Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl, it completely flipped the table on my understanding of passion, and my own relationship to suffering.
Frankl was an Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist, philosopher, and Holocaust survivor, who founded logotherapy, a school of psychotherapy that describes the search for a life’s meaning as the central human motivational force.
The first half of Man’s Search for Meaning detailed Frankl’s personal account of life in the concentration camps. Frankl noted that the prisoners who were most likely to survive the camps were not the ones who were the strongest, smartest, or even bravest, but the ones who had a clear hope for life beyond the camps. This hope instilled in those who sought it the resilience to overcome some of the cruelest physical and mental conditions a human being could ever possibly endure.
For Frankl personally, his saving grace was the blind faith that he would one day be reunited with his wife after the war was over. Even without knowing whether she was still alive while they were separated in the camps, the sheer idea alone of seeing her again was enough to sustain his will to live through the years of torture and suffering.
For me, this is what passion is all about. Passion means to suffer, so to be passionate about something, means that thing, by definition, is worth suffering for. Passion is not simply a means to amusement, entertainment, pleasure, or even joy - but it is the claim itself that someone or something is worth going the distance for; not only when things are comfortable or convenient, but on the contrary, when your own will is thoroughly put to the test.
Passion is the Meaning Maker - the Antidote to Suffering
Viktor Frankl viewed suffering not as an inherently negative or meaningless experience, but as an opportunity for personal growth and finding meaning in life. He believed that even in the face of extreme hardship, like the suffering he endured in the concentration camps, individuals could find a sense of purpose and dignity. Frankl's philosophy, known as logotherapy, emphasizes that the search for meaning is a fundamental human drive, and that meaning can be discovered even in suffering.
Frankl identified three primary ways to discover meaning in life:
- creating something or doing a deed
- experiencing something or encountering someone
- and adopting a positive attitude towards unavoidable suffering
To suffer means to experience pain, loss, and even malevolence. But passion…
Passion is developing your craft even when it is difficult.
Passion is supporting loved ones through a loss.
Passion is creating something from scratch to share with the world.
Passion is sacrificing your own temporary needs for someone you care about.
Passion is spreading positivity to others when you struggle to see it yourself.
Passion is sitting with one’s Shadow to find their true self.
These things are all worth suffering for. And through the practice of suffering through these endeavours, we not only find the meaning that sustains us through the suffering itself, but ultimately life. Suffering is not something that can be removed from our lives, and it is to be endured across the span of one’s life. However, passion is the antidote to suffering in that it provides a sense of meaning and purpose that recontextualizes suffering entirely.
Love Is Applied Passion
Human beings are social creatures. Almost everything we do involves other people in some shape or form. So if we go through life surrounded by other people, how can we live meaningful lives in the company of the people who are most important to us?
Passion is the path we walk down to sustain ourselves through suffering - but love is the instrument we use to bear that suffering with those around us.
Similar to “passion”, “compassion” shares similar etymological roots; com + pati - “to suffer with”. This deepens the meaning of the word beyond what we originally proposed; to love someone is not just to suffer for them, but to suffer alongside them.
Love is passion, directed at people. Love is not just the feelings of attraction, the act of affection, or the vision of living a life together. Love is devotion; love is conviction; it is the active decision that someone is worth suffering for.
Love, devotion, and compassion collectively form the most powerful source of meaning available to humans - the relational triad that makes suffering bearable at its most extreme.
*There is much more to be said about love than a single section can hold. That exploraton is one I am deeply looking forward to having in the future - giving it the full attention that it deserves.
A Closing Gift - The Willingness to Suffer
“Passion” is a word we throw around when describing ideas related to excitement, pleasure, and happiness. But its root is suffering. And maybe that changes everything.
Suffering is an inevitable force in life that is grounded in the universal laws of entropy. Passion is the antidote to suffering, that gives meaning to life. Love is the act of sharing our suffering with those we care about.
Suffering is not something to run away from, but when confronted boldly, provides meaning and purpose to why we are here.
So take the risk. Be vulnerable. Fall in love. Leap into the unknown. Search for the people, places, and causes that deserve your devotion. Accept your suffering, and be willing to face everything that comes with that. Because through that, we discover the gift that gives true value and meaning to life.
The only way out, is through.