The Power of Passion
Last week I presented the juxtaposition of what Discipline is, and what it can do if we place too much emphasis on it as coaches, athletes, and parents.
Today I want to introduce you to one of Higher Tactics’ 7 Truths (more on that later) that we adhere to in the development of any human we work with. The Truth that we are going to cover today in Development 101 is:
Passion outlasts Discipline
It’s my professional opinion and personal experience that discipline shouldn’t be the destination. It’s not the goal of strength and conditioning or sports. It’s a variable in the equation, but it isn’t evident in the a long-term solution. It’s never the definition of success. Not even in life.
However, PASSION and the pursuit of greatness is the most powerful ingredient in the performance recipe, by far the most impactful variable in solving the equation of success. From what I’ve observed over 25 years, PASSION is what the most dedicated athletes possess above anything else. Passion is the only thing that allows anyone to be consistent over decades, and to leave a legacy in their pursuits. Passion not only serves you well, but it attracts great teammates and willing coaches to work with you. Passion is the outcome and is worth the pursuit.
When you look under the hood, and when you really drill down to what makes GOATS develop horns and hooves in their sport it’s the possession of passion. It is their willingness to kindle and foster an enduring embrace of the process and love of the game that separates them from everyone else.
Discipline was defined last week as To do something unpopular, uncomfortable, and inconvenient in a controlled and/or habitual practice.
Conversely, passion is really hard to define, at sometimes even harder to differentiate from discipline.
I think it’s best understood by looking at these four synonyms. These could be the pillars of developing passion and encapsulate the outcome of this powerful quality:
Fervor: A warm and steady emotion towards a subject or endeavor.
Ardor: Energizing and excited feelings likely to be short-lived in the pursuit of a person or thing.
Enthusiasm: Eager interest, curiosity, and gratitude in one’s current situation.
Zeal: Energetic and unswerving pursuit of an aim or devotion to a cause.
Passion is both long and short. It’s both dedicated and excited. Passionate athletes do hard things, but they use the fuel of gratitude and the vehicle of anticipation to drive their habits and practices.
As discipline is developed, passion has to be fostered and cared for or it will become something that is lost as you as an athlete jump levels. There is more pressure, there are more expectations, and there are more chances to fail.
Discipline might get you to the top, but passion is what keeps you there for the long haul.
The hard thing is that discipline and passion often look alike. Disciplined people can be passionate at times, and passionate people can lack disciplines as they’re growing and developing.
So how do we tell them apart? How do you as an athlete determine whether or not you have a discipline as a result of passion or vice versa? How do us as parents and coaches know if we are encouraging passion or inciting disciplines in these youth?
The first thing I would direct you to do is ask if you feel any of the synonyms that define passion. Parents and coaches, assess these qualities in your athletes.
Do you consistently feel enthusiastic about practice and the opportunity to get better?
Do you display zeal when headed to a hard training session where your talents and abilities will be tested?
Are you fervent about your sport, especially after failure or disappointment?
Does ardor invoke others to tell you to calm down, “it’s just a game”?
The real test is longevity and this quality called “long-suffering”. Believe it or not, the word passion and its etymology includes the process of suffering.
Passionate people will suffer because they love something. The fruit of passion bleeds into the choices we make in other areas of life and what we are willing to sacrifice with joy.
Unfortunately and thankfully, passion is not something that reveals itself initially, but it grows and blossoms at the highest levels eventually. By sheer definition, passion grows stronger with time and isn’t fully realized until later.
So, to close I want to encourage you with a couple of things. Parents and coaches, please don’t stop encouraging the right habits and practices. They are vital to see not just success in sport, but societal improvements. Athletes don’t disdain disciplines in light of your passion. Understand that the best people in your life are focused on the cultivation of your PASSION.
We want you to love the achievements, we desire for you to achieve greatness, but we hope that you learn that the best things in life incite feelings of ardor, zeal, fervor, and enthusiasm.
Almost always the things you want most cost a little more than you want to pay.
When asked, you’d do it all over again. You’d suffer willingly for the great relationships and the intangible lessons you’ve learned.
In the end, we pray that as you reach the pinnacle of your pursuits, you reflect back and see that it was all worth it.
WHY? because it’s not just a discipline or even your identity, but it’s now part of who you are and it’s became your passion.
