What would you do? What places would you visit? Who would you spend your time with?
How many of you have contemplated this question? I mean seriously contemplated it to the point that you have identified all of the things that you are most passionate about and maybe even created a “100 Things to Do Before I Die” list.
In our crazy, busy, jam-packed lives how many of us are just going through the motions.
We work because we have to, but we’re not really that excited about our job and some of us may even hate our jobs.
We’re in a relationship because it’s comfortable and we’re afraid to leave it because there might not be anything better out there. Even though our current relationship is not that satisfying.
We have a family because that’s what you do after you go to college, get a job and get married. But now we have no time for ourselves.
We go to church or religious service because we feel guilty if we don’t, but we really don’t have a spiritual practice.
We go to the gym and get on the same treadmill or elliptical machine a few days a week and suffer through the same boring, monotonous exercise routine. Does any of this sound familiar? If so, you’ve lost your passion and you need to get it back, NOW!
The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire with passion. Passion is a hard-core devotion to a person or a cause, and it infuses life with meaning, joy, and uninhibited enthusiasm. Passion is desire in your heart, fire in your belly, and this is an indispensable virtue that is far more valuable than money, power or fame.
Passion inspires you and the people around you; it represents confidence and laughs in the face of obstacles and adversity. Passion elicits fearlessness and enables you to go places others are afraid to go, to try things others are afraid to try, and to be the kind of person others are afraid to be.
It gives you the courage to take that first step, the strength to continue, and the power to overcome the greatest of obstacles and disappointments. Passion has a strong relationship with perseverance in that perseverance is the determination to move toward the achievement of a goal and passion is the fuel that drives perseverance.
Far too many people go through life without making any effort to truly live passionately … to get that fire in their soul for enjoying life and living it to the fullest. The worst tragedy in the world is the person who has lost his passion.
To engage in work or relationships that do not cultivate your passion sabotages your spirit and extinguishes your life flame. You must love what you do and your heart must be in it. Without passion and enthusiasm you will never work to your fullest ability, potential and greatness, you will settle for being mediocre and complacent.
A few years ago, I was unhappy in my job (which was really bad because it was a business I created), in my relationship (which was even worse because I was married to my business partner) and just in general…my life. I had lost my passion. So, what did I do?
I spent a year on a “Passion Quest” – where I critically studied all of my strengths, values, past experiences and things I was extremely passionate about to figure out what I wanted in my life (in a career, in a relationship, in day to day life).
What was going to make me jump out of bed every day? What was it that I couldn’t not do?
How do YOU find your passion: go on a Passion Quest. Spend a period of time: a weekend, a month, a year identifying what you love and do it. I would suggest the following as well:
- Examine Your Past. List 3 times in your life when you were excited and passionate about what you were doing in your career or personal life.
- Investigate the Common Themes. What commonalities can you draw from the times you were most passionate.
- Live Like There’s No Tomorrow. Make a list of what you would do if you only had one year to live. Look for common themes on your list.
- Explore your passions. From your one year to live list, take time to explore some of your greatest passions.
- Spend Time Alone. Find some quiet time to think about who you are, what you represent and what you would like to create in the world.
Don’t wait until you are faced with the reality of dying to do these things. My greatest hope for you is that you will live completely, fearlessly, and passionately.
Dr. Diane Hayden is the owner and publisher of Natural Nutmeg Magazine. She holds a Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology from the University of Maryland and is an Empowerment Life Coach. Her passion centers on helping men and women break the failed relationship cycle through her proprietary SPARK method. You can learn more about her online at http://drdianehayden.com/.