Passion is that shimmer of heat and excitement when you wake up at 4 am in the morning, eager to start the day, even if you were up way past your bedtime the night before. It is what you feel when you are engaged in something you love doing. It's that spark when time stands still as you are totally engaged in an activity.
As business philosopher Jim Rohn once said, "If you don't design your own life plan. Chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much."
Your passion is not defined by the rules of the game that other people set for you. Your passion is the expression of a part of you that does what it does in a way that reflects your feelings and values. Your sense of satisfaction and purpose comes from your nature and your creativity and by simply being who you are. The best way to find your life's passion is to ask yourself frequent questions such as:
What would I do if money wasn't an issue?
What would I do if I wasn't afraid to be seen/heard?
What would I do if I expected nothing back and I felt safe?
If I look into the future five years, do I see myself as the same person I am now?
Does my dream forever remain in the future, or is it with me now?
Why did I come this way at this time?
Am I waiting for something to change to discover my passion?
Am I happy, or does it feel as if something is missing?
Am I satisfied with my career decisions?
When you answer these types of self-realizing questions, be honest with yourself. There's no rule saying that you ever have to share your answers, so what would it hurt to really discover the truth about how you really feel? And, what if the feelings you generate inside you could be tapped into so that you could make different choices. Rather than wallowing in trepidation or regret, let yourself make new choices where your nature would be akin to that of someone who may be more aware of their passions than you are. Be inspired by people who have found their passion instead of resenting them. We can learn so much from others if we don't hide behind jealousy or fear.
Most people believe that the only way to live a rich and purpose-filled life is to live it hard and wide. In actuality, the most fulfilled lives are those that are lived in a way that gives room to being present. Rather than allowing yourself to be defined by the concepts and ideas of others or judging your achievements through the scrutiny of society, you would better serve your passion (or be more likely to find it, if you haven't already) by just being present. Give yourself the room to understand what your heart and soul craves. The keyword here is "understand." It's not enough to just identify what you love but to know the reason behind why you do.
Every person's situation is unique to a particular point in time. Not everyone can make a living from whatever it is that sparks their passion. Most don't. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't still try to find it. Or that you shouldn't try to bring it into your life in some way, big or small. Passion is an emotion that can impart extreme, almost electric joy in all of us, but ironically, it can also bring on an overwhelming sense of peace. If you don't believe me, just give it a try.
Here's to finding your passions and living them!
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