This archive report was first published on 6 October 2019.
Published on October 6, 2019, by Chris Hart, a renowned author.
Being passionate about what you do is a key to a good life, but it comes in two flavors. One has a dark side.
On the upside, being passionate leads to achieving your personal best. Athletes who focus on perfecting their skills achieve more than those who only want to outdo their competitors.
However, some people become obsessed with being better than everyone else. They're driven by fame and external validation rather than the activity itself.
When you tie your self-worth to external validation, you'll never feel truly satisfied. You'll always want more – more money, fame, followers, or whatever.
Instead, compare yourself only to yourself and focus on constantly improving your performance. Aim to make the best contribution you can at work, master your body in sports training, and love your spouse for the joy of being together.
Enjoy a big win for a day, but then get back to work. Focus on how effectively you work or train, rather than the rewards. The skills you gain from what you do are priceless.
So, never stop thinking about what you're doing. Let that be what inspires and rewards you. Avoid doing things that don't matter and focus on improving your abilities.
