Adult-child and (In)Action: Why Passion is Bad

While the adage "Never let the child inside of you die" often resonates with our notions of creativity and imagination, it's worth exploring the other side of the spectrum. The inner child, though a fountain of creativity, can also be a double-edged sword ----- a force that, if left unchecked, can lead to inaction and procrastination. This write-up is not about the art of an artist, rather this is a piece about the lifestyle of an artist.

Part 1: Imagination and Independence

A person with high levels of artistry, leads a life filled with vivid imagination and boundless creativity, and often holds independence and freedom in high regard. He possess an inherent desire to push boundaries and explore limits, and this inclination can be a powerful source of innovation and artistic expression in his art. While the pursuit of independence and exploration of creative avenues are admirable qualities in art, they can take a toxic turn when an individual becomes intolerant of any form of restriction in any avenue of life. Just because they are able to make their minds run free in their art form, they do forget that even in art, they are bound by certain things--- a painter is bound by the size of the canvas, a musician is bound by the 12 notes, a writer is bound by the number of letters.

A.I. illustration of a man in a fantasy land

The daily life, i.e., the life that they have outside their art, becomes mundane. The tendency to escape into a fantasy world grows stronger with each passing day. This often leads to stimulants and intoxicants as they allow us to go into a fantasy world, no matter how temporary.

Hence, just imagining won't do anybody any good. Too much imagination can uproot us from the reality and make us think about an imaginary life which is perfect according to us. One would then start living in the "would-be", "could-be" or "will-be" world ----- even an artist for that matter. If the artist is too much engrossed in imagination and no action, he would become an artist without art--- and what good is an artist without art?

Part 2: Man and Child :: Dedication and Passion

As one would have deciphered from the sub-heading, I like to describe a child as the highly passionate type of personality and the man as the dedicated type. There is one who just dreams and then there's one who dreams and then acts upon it to see the dream come into fruition. Hence, one can say that passion and dedication differentiate themselves on the basis of action.

How are passion and dedication related to action?

Disclaimer: This part will be riddled with quotes that I have come across different books that I have read.

No matter what profession we choose the people from, there is a huge difference between the passionate ones and the dedicated ones. They are generally used as synonyms but the difference is that the ones who're just passionate generally do not succeed but the dedicated ones do. The difference between a passionate person and dedicated person is the ability to take action---- the passionate one is the one who just likes to dream without taking any action but the dedicated one is the somebody who is passionate and disciplined, i.e., he takes action to see his passion come to life.

Technical excellence was not enough. The pain of failure had led me to understand that technical excellence was a moral requirement.

Paul Kalanithi, When Breath Becomes Air

In short, the ones who work in a disciplined manner are the ones who usually succeed. Many are taken aback by this statement. This happens because the world has given people the wrong notion about passion being synonymous with dedication. Every second person that you meet cribs about not being able to follow their passion, failing to understand that they lack dedication.

Let's take an example of two football players. Both of them are big fans of the game and love discussing how good it must feel to actually become a professional football player. The passionate one shows up everyday at the evening for the match in his neighbouring ground, enjoys the game and leaves. The dedicated one gets up everyday in the morning for a jog, exercises, goes to the gym, follows a specific diet and then shows up in the evening at the same ground to play, exercises a bit more after the game and leaves.

Now, I don't even need to tell which person has a higher chance of playing better football and actually living the 'dream' of becoming a professional football player.

Submit to a daily practice. Your loyalty to that Is a ring on the door.

Jalal ad-din Rumi, The Sunrise Ruby

Well, a quote from Rumi was the last thing I was expecting to put in this write-up. And the fact that I came across these lines as I was reading about Love is such a deep gesture from the universe. Discipline is the highest form of self-love. Rumi understood that. Now, on to my interpretation of these lines:

Essentially what Rumi is trying to say through these three lines is that we all should have something in our lives that we do daily, religiously, with discipline. Be loyal to that practice, that activity, for that loyalty will bear fruits.

To me, "a ring on the door" is symbolic of the arrival of something or someone important, an entryway to greater skill, understanding, or enlightenment. This regular engagement with our chosen practice not only hones our skills but also cultivates a sense of discipline and perseverance. Over time, these small, consistent efforts accumulate, leading to significant growth and transformation. Loyalty to a daily practice is more than mere repetition; it's about embracing the journey and trusting that the process itself is valuable. It teaches patience, resilience, and dedication. It's through this unwavering commitment that we often find the door to new opportunities opening, as if by some magic or divine intervention. True mastery and fulfillment come from a steady, daily dedication to our craft or purpose where the sporadic bursts of effort are only additions to this daily thing.

This loyalty, this ring on the door, heralds the arrival of the rewards that only time and devotion can bring.

Even if you're perfect, the world isn't. ... You can't ever reach perfection but you can believe in asymptote towards which you are ceaselessly striving.

Paul Kalanithi, When Breath Becomes Air

Part 3: Dangers of Staying a Child

I call these as the symptoms of a child-like personality. These are the things that one might see and even appreciate in a child but if you continue with those traits after a certain age, it becomes problematic.

Symptom 1: Alienated from the Reality- It's easy to become entangled in a web of fantasies which, in simpler words can be called ----- unproductive daydreams. Fantasies have a seductive allure – they are rich, overflowing with boundless possibilities, an endless reservoir of potential, and a fountain of creativity.

Fantasies, as captivating as they are, can also be deceiving. If there is no possibility of finding a means of realising those fantasies, one floats away into the unforgiving and vast abyss of inaction where they don't even attempt to make their fantasies come true. They begin to lose touch with the world when they do not even attempt to start working. Deep within, there's a fear lurking------ the fear of failure. Due to the apprehension of falling short of their very own expectations, once they take that first step toward making their fantasies real, it can be paralyzing. In this inaction, the desire for perfection grows to such an extent that it becomes a hindrance. It can halt progress before it even begins, leaving individuals stranded in their imaginative worlds.

There is another fear that stays embedded deep in the conscience----- the fear of accepting the fact that their dream was just a fantasy that they had conjured for themselves to make themselves feel good about themselves.

Symptom 2: Missing Sense of Identity- when a person is missing their sense of identity, it can be very difficult for them to accept the reality. It becomes a struggle to accept reality because the core of who they are remains undefined. This absence of identity is intricately connected to the point discussed earlier. In their quest to compensate for this lack of identity, individuals may resort to stimulants such as drugs and alcohol. Why? These substances serve as a temporary escape, a brief reprieve from the inner turmoil that threatens to shatter them into fragments. It's an attempt to construct an illusion of selfhood that offers a fleeting sense of stability and harmony. The result is often a desperate scramble to find a sense of self that feels genuine, even if it's a manufactured reality brought on by external substances. In reality, the path to genuine self-discovery and lasting identity is a far more complex and profound journey, one that cannot be achieved through the temporary refuge of stimulants.

Symptom 3: Listening/Reading Motivational Videos/Podcasts/Books- we as human beings are very capable to assimilate the contents or to listen to perfect examples of things. These mediums often paint an enticing picture of a flawless world where challenges fade into the background, and all that's left is unbridled ambition. There's certainly value in consuming these motivational resources. However, it's important to consider the underlying motivation behind our engagement with them, i.e., the question of 'Why are you actually engaging with that content?'. Motivational content can indeed offer valuable insights and strategies for self-improvement, and there's no harm in benefiting from these resources. The problem is when one consumes them solely to bask in a self-serving reverie of untapped potential. But that is exactly what the motivational content creators sell to us.

The danger lies in fixating on the fantasy of how these practices could revolutionize one's life, without taking concrete action to implement them. It's crucial to understand that motivation alone, derived from external sources, is fleeting. Its lasting impact is determined by the actions one takes in response, i.e., one can learn only through experience. The wonderful world of self-help content can sometimes lead to a sense of complacency, as if reading about change is equivalent to making changes--- when in reality, one is just consuming content and nothing more.

Symptom 4: Showing-off of Knowledge- The inclination to flaunt one's knowledge can be an intriguing aspect of human behavior. A pertinent quote comes to mind, one suggesting that when individuals excessively boast about something they claim to do routinely, it's quite probable that their claims are far from the truth. This adage encapsulates a profound insight into human nature—it implies that those who genuinely engage in a certain practice daily would consider it mundane and not worthy of boasting. This phenomenon arises from a basic human desire for recognition and validation. When people acquire knowledge or skills that they consider impressive, they may feel a strong urge to display them, seeking acknowledgment from their peers.

The meaning of this runs much deeper. The same principle can be applied to those who habitually showcase their knowledge. It's plausible that these individuals recently acquired this knowledge and, prior to their newfound expertise, were ignorant about the subject matter. Consequently, they feel compelled to parade their knowledge, framing it as common and trivial to project their intellectual superiority.

It is essential to approach the sharing of knowledge with authenticity and humility. True expertise shines through without the need for grandiose displays. The most knowledgeable individuals often exude a quiet confidence, readily offering their insights without the necessity for self-aggrandisement. The pursuit of knowledge is a noble endeavor, but it's equally important to share it with grace and respect for others.

The Rationale Behind this Post:

I started this blog for a reason that's deeply personal. It's because I know what it's like to be in a phase of life where your actions seem to lead nowhere. I've been there, and honestly, I'm still working through a plethora of those challenges. In this blog, I share my own experiences, both ----- the things I've identified as problematic and those I'm still trying to overcome. One thing I want to make crystal clear is that I don't have everything figured out. I'm still quite young, and I'm still struggling with many aspects in life, especially when it comes to discipline and sticking to a routine.

You see, I've consumed my fair share of motivational content, and while it's great for inspiration, there's no one-size-fits-all formula for personal growth. What I've come to realize is that everyone's journey is unique. No matter how well-intentioned someone's advice may be, they can't live your life for you. And the road to discipline and personal improvement is, well, pretty personal. I hold discipline in high regard; it's something I deeply admire. So, I'm on a quest to build it within myself. I'm not just saying it; I genuinely believe in myself and my capacity to become the disciplined person I aspire to be. I have started working on it, and I'm committed to this journey. I'll be sharing my thoughts, experiences, and the lessons I learn along the way right here on this blog.

Conclusion:

While nurturing that childlike wonder is vital for creativity and inspiration, it's equally important to bridge the gap between dreams and reality. This is the very reason why one should lead a life which is deeply rooted in the "here" and "now".

Trust me, taking that initial step is daunting, but it's the only way to truly breathe life into those captivating fantasies. Therefore, it's not enough to merely be motivated or inspired; the key is to translate that motivation into meaningful action. Without execution and sustained effort, the grand visions painted by motivational media remain unfulfilled fantasies. The real growth and success emerge from the fusion of inspiration with disciplined practice, turning aspirations into achievements. So, by all means, seek motivation, but let it be the spark that ignites the flames of action, propelling you toward your goals.

Discipline isn't a destination; it's a journey filled with ups and downs. I'm excited to share this adventure with you, to let you in on the challenges and triumphs, and to connect on a very human level. Because, in the end, we're all on unique journeys, but there's a lot we can learn from one another.