The benefits of passions for young people
September 9, 2024 Well-being
Parents
A passion is a subject, activity or field that arouses great interest in a person. For young people, a passion comes with emotional commitment and a strong desire to learn, to devote time to it, and to constantly improve.
The importance of having a passion
Having a passion is an essential element for young people. It allows them to flourish, to be more confident and happy. Whether in sports, music, art or anything else, passion feeds their inner flame.
A passion is much more than just a way to have fun. It allows young people to express themselves, build their character, and reach their full potential.
What does having a passions offer to young people?
The benefits of having a passion are multiple and can be different from one person and one activity to another. Overall, however, many of the same benefits can be found in young people, regardless of the type of passion they are interested in. Here are some of them:
1. Personal development and improved well-being
A young person's involvement in an exciting activity automatically gives them a sense of satisfaction and well-being. This activity offers youth an opportunity to escape from academic or even social pressure.
It is therefore an excellent tool that allows for better stress and anxiety management while also having fun. Having interests outside of school also allows youth to be more motivated in general and break out of their routine.
2. Skills and talent development
Being passionate about something means wanting to devote a lot of time to it, and very likely, progressing and becoming stronger in a particular field.
Some sports passions allow, for example, to develop physical fitness and discipline, while a passion for music can improve hearing and motor skills. Many of these skills are transferrable to other spheres, such as studying or a future career.
3. Building self-esteem and self-confidence
Experiencing positive events and successes provides a sense of competence and pride. By improving and developing their skills in an exciting field, a young person will have a great sense of accomplishment, which will improve their self-esteem. Achieving personal goals will also help them be more confident and get things in perspective when they experience a failure.
4. Creating meaningful connections
Creating connections is essential to a young person's development and having a passion is one of the best ways to create new ones. Passions provide opportunities to meet others who share the same interests.
Having lasting friendships allows the young person to develop a sense of belonging and to be part of a supportive community where they can thrive.
Supporting young people in their passions
The first step to properly supporting a young person in their passions is to be attentive and attentive to their interests.
Some topics may attract more attention and certain activities may spark joy in their eyes.
It can sometimes be difficult to understand a young person's interests and you may feel disconnected from them. In this case, it would be interesting to let them guide you through their world. Taking an interest in what they are passionate about will allow you to immerse yourself in their reality and get to know them better.
Then, it is important to offer the young person the opportunity to explore new activities that might interest them so they can get out of their comfort zone, while maintaining a safe environment.
Finally, it is important to encourage the young person to share their passion with you. Celebrating their small victories will increase their sense of pride and keep them motivated, while improving your relationship with your teenager.
References (two in french)
Youth in Mind Foundation, Balancing passion and academic performance
Éducofamille, Les nombreux bénéfices de la passion harmonieuse
Succès scolaire, Comment aider votre enfant à découvrir ses passions
