SGPsychStud: Interest vs Passion

So are u studying (or into) psychology because you like it or love it? Yes I am asking you if you LIKE it or LOVE it....
You may think "Why ask such a strange question?" and "What does it have to do with studying psychology?" Answer: It has everything to do with psychology and pretty much many other things in your life as well.

Firstly let me explain the main two words here: Interest and Passion. There may be many definitions out there, but hear me out and probably the topic would be of more interest to you.

So (in my opinion) "Interest" or "to have interest in something"  (or to like) is to have a liking for that object, activity, person, way of thinking, etc. It may be something that you will pay attention to when you come into contact with it, but it is not really something of utmost important. An example would be having a casual hobby which you might do about 3 to 4 times a month or less, and you definitely will have "interest" in it, otherwise you would not be doing it at all.

However, "Passion" is totally different from "Interest" (in my opinion again). Yes, it is also a kind of liking but of a higher intense level, hence I label "love" as its verb. To have the "passion" (or love) something or someone (or others) to that very high extent, there is an acceptance (in you) for this thing or person to revolve around you for the rest of your life. The thing would probably be something that you would not give up on, regardless of whatever happens, and that it is of the utmost importance to you. You may have "passion" in more than one thing, which is common. However that distinction between your "passions" and "interests" should be known to you.

And when your choice of work/study/activity (regardless of psychology or not) becomes your passion, this passion will actually propel you to greatness or fuel you in times of dire. When your work/study becomes your passion, it will no longer be a chore but something that you will desire to look forward to doing it everyday.

The reason why I am writing this is because when I ask people why they are studying psychology, one of the regular answers would be because I am "interested" in it. Hopefully one day, that interest will develop and become a passion which propels/fuels your future path in psychology. But the question now is: "How much interest do you have so as to endure the hardships (assignments/work/sacrificed time) that you might face till it becomes a passion?"

So is Psychology your interest or passion??

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