Fired Up

HOW DO I FOLLOW MY PASSION?

“Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.” - Oprah Winfrey

I am sure you have heard over and over again; do what you love and money, success and happiness will follow. Follow your passion. I agree with this statement so long as there is the awareness that your career or earnings may not be the same as what you are most passionate about. What if your passion is skydiving? Do you need to become a skydive instructor? I love baking, and if I am being really honest, I love eating the baking, but does that mean I should open a bakery? Probably not, unless I want to call Weight Watchers my home. So, what the heck does this mean? How do you do what you are passionate about? For some people and I include myself in the fortunate, our jobs are aligned with the things we are most passionate about, but for others they are highly adept and skilled in an area in life that may not be a full on “passion.” A friend of mine is a teacher, however her passion is travelling. Does she dislike teaching? No, not at all, as a matter of fact she is very good at it and is able to use many of her strengths: mentoring, leading, inspiring and communicating and sometimes she even finds ways to share her passion for travel with her students or colleagues. Her adventures to Egypt, Africa and South America have enriched her life and added life to her lessons. This lights her up and allows her to pursue her work with purpose. I agree that following your bliss will inspire and energize you, fostering the ability to contribute, engage and ultimately give the best of yourself in all areas, leading to more joy and success.

THE INTERNAL FLAME

You don’t have to do something you are passionate about – you just have to be passionate about your life and find ways to light that internal spark. This does not mean choosing or staying in a job you hate, it just means that there are many ways to promote your passion and purpose. Create ways to encourage inspiration; hobbies, sports, trying new things or meeting new people, art, music and so on. This internal illumination is then shone on every interaction in your life from self-care, to relationships, and yes to your career. This time of year many students will be facing the decision about continuing education, entering the workforce, traveling and on and on. Some will be encouraged to follow their passion, to do what they love and others will be encouraged to be practical and follow the sure thing. So, which advice is right? Both. The two are not mutually exclusive. My friend who is a teacher saw how her strengths and natural aptitudes would allow her to be on purpose and bring the best of herself to her career. It also afforded her the means to create a lifestyle that supported traveling, both in time and money. Brilliant; passion and purpose. In my friend’s case, her passion fuelled her career and demonstrates how creative, joy-filled and life-enhancing pursuits can fire imagination and infuse your job with new life. Passion is the joy, energy and aliveness that materializes as a result of participating in life fully and is the outcome of choosing activities and interactions that add a spark to your experience. It is cultivated and grown and fostered and like purpose is not something that needs to be found or sought after. You do not need to follow your passion; it exists within you and can be recognized by your gut feelings, heart beating faster, losing track of time and the lengths you will go to in order to participate in the activity. Passion is the catalyst for many changes, improvements and experiences that provide you with the ultimate feeling we are all seeking – joy.

“I don’t believe people are looking for the meaning of life as much as they are looking for the experience of being alive.” – Joseph Campbell