One of the essential ingredients of effective leadership is passion.

In ancient literature, pathos meant to submit, to undergo an experience, to be completely affected or overcome. In more recent times, the meaning of the word has transformed to mean something more emotional, with reason being the opposite.

But I think there is an element to passion that we miss. Passion implies emotions, it’s true. But not to the exclusion of reason. On the contrary, true passion must include a reasoned approach to an emotional desire.

People who have not been in Narnia sometimes think that a thing cannot be good and terrible at the same time.

– C. S. Lewis, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe

There is a stark reality to passion: it can be dangerous. In fact, true passion must be dangerous. When we are truly passionate about something, it consumes us, it becomes a major part of our lives, it’s all we can think about. That is both good and bad.

It’s good because people will buy into that which we are excited about. It’s bad because passion can quickly become obsession and rule us. And most things worth our passion fall on both sides of that line.

Just as C. S. Lewis stated about Narnia, so we understand about those things truly worth our passions.

Developing passion is engaging.

When people see your passion for your dream, they will be more excited about joining you on that journey. No one wants to devote time and resources to something no one is excited about.

Developing passion is enlightening.

As you get excited about your dream, you will start to see new possibilities that you haven’t thought of yet. Your creative juices start flowing, with no end in sight.

And developing passion is empowering.

Your passion allows encourages others to jump in and own your dream with you. And when they do, the odds of successfully seeing your dream through to completion just multiplied exponentially.

Sadly, passion is missing from our culture today. Too many accept the simplicity of just floating from day to day, from event to event, never seeing that something lurks just beneath the surface, waiting to be awakened.

Too many settle for apathy, when they could be living with passion.

Don’t be one who settles.

What is your passion? You can share your thoughts in the comment section below.