Passion, is there a Peak?

I was asked the following question recently, "How do you know when your passion has reached its peak? Or does it?"

I found myself on a curious train of thought as I pondered the question. I came to the conclusion that there really cannot be a measuring stick for passion, nor does it have a peak. It is such a dynamic state of being and an individualized standard of measurement, there really is no boundary surrounding or defining it. How could you really know if you were at a peak of passion? Now I don't mean in your relationships (although I think the same rule applies there too) I mean in the things you do.

A personal example for me is teaching. While teaching workshops I become so elated, sometimes I have to take breaks and schedule no more than a couple classes per week. The feeling of euphoria overtakes my emotions, and I become blissful. I love to teach, I love to see and hear discovery in my students and myself. Yet, there have been times in my life where my schedule became more about telling and dictating than teaching. When this happened I began to lose energy and passion, yet I was still passionate about teaching. During those times, I do not think my passion peaked nor ended. As predicted, the minute I stepped back into a class to teach, I became even more engaged and passionate as though there was not a minute since the last time I felt that emotion.

There have been books, assessment tools, articles, papers and even talk shows about Passion. When you think about the things in your life you are passionate about, what comes to mind? Is there a peak? Perhaps a way to tell if you have reached it or not? We are curious to know...