Finding Your Passion

Do you know what your passion is? If not, find out. What is YOUR passion? Whatever it may be, you do have a gift. It may be brain surgery or it may be Chief Bottle Washer. Even though society gives more importance to the brain surgeon, the brain surgeon may not have an ounce of happiness that head bottle washer has. Whatever it is, it will be something that comes to you at some point in your life. You must accept that your design is unique to you and not the same as anyone else's. Unfortunately, we are given mixed signals at the beginning of life by being told to be independent, yet sent to school to perform uniformly like a herd of cattle. Then, based on standardized testing, your forehead is branded with a letter grade. Some of us were disenchanted and bored with school. This is not to say school is not important. It is very important! Just not in the way that most people agree upon. But it's a very confusing time when you are born with unbridled passion, then you are taught to bridle it, then you are asked to unbridle it again and be independent.

Everyone then asks you what you want to be. Huh? As a result, the search for your gift is not always easy. When do you feel most at peace? What are you doing when you achieve the most success with the least amount of effort? What continually draws you back? If money weren't a factor, what would you do? These are not easy questions to answer. Inevitably, money becomes a factor because it makes the world go around. However, it's up to you to separate your needs from your dreams. Your passion may not be what you do for a living. Or it may. Many people go through life not ever knowing or finding their true passion. While others seem to know when they are a small child what they are destined to do. I see those people as very lucky. You can find your passion if you look, listen, and learn. Seek it out and don't give up. It will be appropriate for you and your life. The first step is believing it's out there for the taking, waiting for you.

To get to your passion you must first discover who you are. Yeah, yeah we hear this all the time, but who knows how to do this? It's easy. Pay attention! You know if you like broccoli or not don't you? You know who your favorite actors are or what kinds of books you like to read, right? Then dig a little deeper and explore a little more. A lot of people are able to do this by mediation or finding a quiet place inside themselves to think without any distractions. But there's a good place to start. You're real self is the person under your Roles (mother, sister, daughter, friend). Under your roles is the person that society has labeled you (weird, quiet, talkative, skinny, beautiful, overweight). Then, under society's labels are your life experiences that have shaped you (abused, loved, poor, wealthy, lonely). Under there it's my guess that you'll find your real self lurking around, patiently waiting to be heard.

It's who came into this world to prosper and live happily. Your roles, labels, and experiences have all served as a series of tests designed for you to pass. But you must rise to the challenge and be determined to live without fear and reaction to others. Be careful how you compare yourself to others. More often than not comparing is NOT a good thing to do. You are a complex person, you may be either cutting yourself short or overestimating what's realistic for you by making comparisons to others. Comparing can be a good thing when you are looking at a quality person or situation and using that information to better yourself and your life if it is appropriate for you. Your beauty, and your best physical shape are so completely unique to you. Don't focus on looking or acting like someone you are not. Experience how GOOD it feels to live healthy and authentic. Shift your focus off of others and be what you are. Learn to accept who you are and be proud of it.