A friend of mine is incredibly passionate about everything he undertakes in life. He embodies passion, whether it's in sports, his career, his political affiliations, or the causes he champions. This fervor extends to the politicians he admires and the ideas he advocates for. Many, including myself, have praised him for this trait. So, it begs the question: Is being passionate inherently good?

I held this belief until I encountered a book by Ryan Holiday titled Ego Is the Enemy. In it, Holiday presents passion as a less than desirable characteristic. His compelling arguments and thorough analysis led me to reconsider my stance on passion.

The concept of passion is often glorified by teachers, gurus, and various industry leaders who encourage us to embrace and cultivate it in every aspect of our lives. From retreats to seminars, the message is clear: Live passionately to achieve success. This narrative paints passion as the key to overcoming obstacles and achieving greatness.

However, history shows that passion alone does not guarantee success. In Ego Is the Enemy, Holiday discusses examples like Dick Cheney and George Bush's fervor for the Iraq War, and how, despite their conviction, they were misguided. Similarly, numerous entrepreneurs, inventors, politicians, and religious leaders have pursued their causes with passion but ultimately did not achieve their desired outcomes.

The book suggests that instead of passion, we should adopt pragmatism. With a pragmatic approach, guided by purpose and reason, we are more likely to achieve meaningful success. It's important to distinguish passion from caring. Passion, in this context, refers to unbridled enthusiasm or a burning desire. Motivational speakers often encourage this kind of intense zeal as essential for success, equating it with determination and unwavering dedication.

On the surface, this perspective might seem harmless or even beneficial. However, it can be misleading and potentially harmful. The truth is that an excessively passionate individual may be seen as a zealot—fanatical and uncompromising in their pursuits, whether they be religious, political, or of another nature. An excessive focus on passion can result in a narrow-minded pursuit of goals, overlooking the potential for nuance and the importance of adaptability

In reevaluating the role of passion, we find that a balanced approach, centered on reason and purpose, offers a more sustainable path to achieving our objectives. Passion, when not tempered by reason, can become a double-edged sword, leading us down a path of rigidity and potential failure. It's through a pragmatic approach, informed by a clear understanding of our goals and the world around us, that we can navigate life's challenges most effectively.

These individuals might often be labeled as irrational or overly ambitious. They advocate for pursuing goals that seem, on the surface, to be unattainable or beyond reach. They constantly push for something bigger, something better, urging us to strive for goals that might initially appear impossible. While they frequently highlight stories of successful individuals driven by passion, it's crucial to remember that for every success story, there are thousands of others who did not succeed—stories that remain untold and unrecognized.

For instance, Vladimir Putin could be considered passionate about pursuing the conflict in Ukraine, yet this demonstrates flawed reasoning. Despite his passion, his actions are widely regarded as misguided. Similarly, there are entrepreneurs and CEOs, lauded for their dedication to their causes, who ultimately may be misguided in their endeavors. This phenomenon isn't limited to public figures; it extends to our personal encounters with individuals who, despite their passion, find their efforts unfruitful.

Passionate individuals often exhibit a significant boost in confidence. If we were to visualize confidence and insecurity on opposite ends of a scale, passionate people would likely lean heavily towards confidence. While confidence is generally positive, excessive confidence can be detrimental. It can close one's mind to alternative perspectives, leading to a tunnel vision that only seeks information confirming pre-existing beliefs.

Moreover, passion can obscure our grip on reality. Consider another spectrum, with pessimism on one end and optimism on the other. Passionate individuals tend to gravitate towards optimism, which, although beneficial in moderation, can lead to unrealistic expectations in the pragmatic world. For example, an investor overly confident and optimistic about Tesla's stock might overlook critical analysis, potentially leading to unfavorable outcomes.

Thus, while passion inflates confidence and optimism, it's essential to temper these traits for balanced, realistic outcomes. Passion can mask our weaknesses and act as a poor substitute for discipline—the true driver of success.

Animals like dogs may exhibit passion, which endears them to us, but we don't expect rational decisions from them. This illustrates that passion, while appealing, is not always conducive to rational or pragmatic action. Instead of yielding to passion, embracing realism, rationality, and pragmatism is more effective. Understanding our place, abilities, weaknesses, resources, and making decisions grounded in reality far exceeds the value of passion.

Passion focuses on the individual—"I" and what "I" can achieve. However, transitioning from a self-centered perspective to one of purpose—grounded in rationality—shifts the focus. Purpose de-emphasizes the "I" in favor of a broader, more meaningful objective. This approach not only acknowledges our limitations but also channels our efforts towards more achievable, rational goals.

I find myself compelled to act for a specific purpose, for a particular cause. This delineates the stark difference between passion and purpose. Passion is a pursuit for oneself, feeding one's ego, while purpose transcends the self—it is about contributing to something greater. Passion can often lead to self-deception; purpose, on the other hand, satisfies our intellectual curiosity. Passion is inherently self-centered, aimed at showcasing to the world. Purpose is about making a meaningful impact. Passion tends to be about ostentation, whereas purpose seeks recognition for its inherent value.

Ultimately, my preference leans towards realism. A realist carefully considers all possibilities and alternatives. Life, when approached with rationalism and reality, reveals its true beauty. "What you see is what you get," as the saying goes, emphasizing that the surface often reflects the deeper truth. Embracing reason makes life not only more beautiful but also simpler and more fulfilling. By accepting and living in accordance with reality, we avoid deceiving ourselves or others.

Therefore, I choose not to live by passion but by rationality. I embrace reality in all its forms, along with its harsh consequences and its undeniable presence in every aspect of my life. I acknowledge its universal truths wholeheartedly. I live by these principles and advocate for them, accepting them down to the core.

I see no value in constructing facades or chasing after vague, unachievable dreams under the guise of passion. Instead, I prefer to pursue what is tangible and real, no matter how modest, and make that my goal. It's better to be genuinely engaged in small, realistic endeavors than to be consumed by passion for something unattainable that will never materialize.

In conclusion, I urge us not to become ensnared by passion but to live with purpose, guided by reason and rationality. Let's not deceive ourselves or shy away from reality by convincing ourselves that our passions are noble pursuits. Actions grounded in reason will shape our destiny, not fanciful dreams of a utopian paradise. A single step in the right direction is worth more than a hundred imaginary steps towards an ideal that cannot be reached. Such actions produce tangible results, while illusory passions yield little of substance.

I hope my readers will resonate with the viewpoints I've shared. Sometimes, we must critically examine aspects of our lives. Things may appear one way on the surface, but upon closer inspection, we may discover a different reality. I hope this perspective of mine encourages my readers to embrace reason, rationality, and realism as the cornerstone of their existence.