Passion is the fuel that powers our creative efforts. It is means by which we achieve results outside the ordinary. It is a force that ignites our efforts and allows us to skillfully target in on our desired results, giving us the power to overcome any obstacles along the way. We can exist without passion in our lives, but in doing so we tend to meander along without any lasting sense of fulfillment or satisfaction.
What does it take to discover and live your true passion? It begins by taking inventory of your life. Think about the types of things that you like to do. What is it about them that you enjoy? What are some of the experiences in your life that truly make you happy or have made you happy in the past? What sort of activities provide you with a sense of connection and/or contribution to all other living things? Meditation is an excellent way to gain insight into these areas, and if you’re not already benefiting from it or have not yet given it a try, check out my recommended reading list for some good books by Deepak Chopra and Wayne Dyer that delve more deeply into the subject.
After taking stock of the types of activities that do bring you joy and happiness, take a look around at the landscape of your life and notice what you actually see. Are your days filled with events that bring joy both to yourself and to those around you? Do you find yourself doing the things that you are passionate about on a regular basis? Do you practically spring out of bed each morning, eager to jump into the next task that awaits you? Or are you spending your life on a series of tasks and commitments that aren’t taking you down a path that provides much in the way of personal fulfillment? Chances are, if you dread getting out of bed in the morning, or if you have long entrenched “goals” that you simply haven’t been able to achieve no matter how much effort you’ve given, that you have been living in a state of incongruence (lacking in personal harmony, having conflicting priorities, acting inconsistently) and have been fighting yourself because at a deep inner level, you really don’t want the “goals” that you have set. Being stuck in a state of incongruence is the opposite of passion and causes a great deal of stress and wasted energy. I myself have found that except for the occasional shorts burst of activity or excitement, it is practically impossible to sustain your passion for living over the long haul when you are not living the type of life that you have come to know will bring you the highest sense of personal fulfillment.
It is not uncommon that, after taking stock of their actions, many people are surprised to find that their conscious minds are often programmed at odds with their true desires. As an example, let’s say that like practically everyone else on this planet, that you need money to live. You have a job that pays the bills. You tell yourself that you must be successful in this job to earn a living and provide for your family. You tell yourself that you like this job. You intend to do your best, but you just don’t like what you’re doing all that much, and feel as though your true purpose lies elsewhere. Deep down, you have a suspicion of what it is you’d like to be doing, but refuse to acknowledge it because you have previously deemed it to be ‘impractical”. So you focus your mind on the job at hand. Still, you’re late for meetings, leave early when you can, and don’t always give it your all. Ever wondered why? It’s because at a deep inner level you’re simply not interested in the outcomes your current situation provides for you, and that inner dream of what you can become will never fully be put to rest. Take a moment to objectively inventory your actions in the major areas of your life and notice if there are any areas where this occurs. Does it occur regularly in any one particular area? Do you end up habitually justifying your behavior in a specific area of your life on a regular basis?
Beginning in the next post, we will begin to explore ways of finding out the things you are truly passionate about, how to start moving towards doing what it is that inspires you.
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