We’ve all heard the phrase, “follow your passion”. It sounds like wonderful advice.
But when it comes to creating a life you absolutely love, and making your dreams come true…
Following your passion doesn’t work. It won’t make your life better.
The advice sounds good, in theory. You think, “If I follow my passion, it will take me where I want to go.” You believe that following your passion will mean the entire journey will be happy. It’s also advice that you hear all the time.
Do you find that nothing really excites you or holds much meaning for you? Does your life lack aliveness, passion and purpose?
Vera sought out counseling with me because her doctor advised her to discover the emotional causes of her chronic fatigue. Vera, a successful stockbroker, was in a loving 18-year marriage. On the surface, everything in her life was fine. She had enough money, friends and a good relationship with her husband. Yet Vera awoke each morning battling fatigue and depression. She didn’t want to get out of bed because nothing felt meaningful to her.
David sought my help because of chronic feelings of inner emptiness. David is very successful in his manufacturing business, has a good marriage and two adult children. Like Vera, everything seemed fine. Yet the feelings of inner emptiness drove David to overeat, overspend and indulge in porn on the Internet. Like Vera, nothing felt meaningful to him.
We all need a paycheck to provide for ourselves and our families, but who says that paycheck can’t come from something you’re passionate about and love doing? Take your passion and make it happen. Why? Because that’s what brings you money! I cannot tell you how many times I’ve witnessed this: real people chasing real dreams and finding real wealth. It’s not only possible, it’s really doable!
You don’t need to stay stuck in a career you don’t love to make money. In fact, staying in a place you feel unfulfilled is limiting you from reaching your full potential.
My ongoing passion for over 30 years has been guiding people out of the darkness of their souls and into the light of their hearts, but it appears to be more important now than ever before in history.
For many years I have observed large herds of folks headed, unwittingly, like a flock of sheep into the darkness of gloom and doom. Blinded by greed and fear, they marched faster and faster until they hit the wall - the wall of COVID-19.
Bam! Time to reassess. Many people are now asking “Where was I going and why?” Others are just waiting until we get back to “normal." Good luck with that - there is no going back. Those waiting to go back to “normal” will be left behind and wondering what happened. After all, weren’t they on the fast track?
Long before COVID-19 brought the world to its knees, I had recurring thoughts and dreams about the world spinning out of control. In my dreams it would be a globe spinning so fast it began to get out of control but continued to spin faster and faster and eventually it flew off its axis into space and forever nothingness. I would awaken and think about how bizarre it was but had no clue what to do, or how to help people get back on track or, to at least slow down.
My husband and I assisted one of our children moving last week. Chloe was leaving dorm life for a shared apartment situation. She successfully completed her first year of college and wanted to stay in Bellingham, Washington. Her passion is exploring and fully soaking in the environment. She holds a vision of developing a career path that allows her to be with nature while sharing adventures with others. This means she needs to gain skill sets not just found in college classes. Becoming a kayak guide, river guide or even a deck hand, is not included in her Outdoor Recreation major. She will blend her formal education with her outdoor experiences and create a fulfilling lifestyle.
I recognize Chloe is very lucky to be motivated to seek knowledge in something that she loves. She is well on her way to fulfilling her dreams from when she was eight years old.
As we wrapped up our Bellingham adventure, I received a message from a person I worked with long ago. She is in her early 50’s and has decided to pursue a fellowship. My friend is seeking another diploma because she loves learning. Both women are living inspired lives.
Committing to gaining knowledge and translating that experience into an expression of yourself, creates a lovely life. The action of exploring and learning should be part of our life regardless of circumstances. I believe each of us is here to help the world become a kinder, more loving and compassionate place. We do this by following our heart and sharing gifts that are inspired by our passions. If we allow ourselves each day, an opportunity to pursue something we are curious about, our collective world will change.
I often consider the reasons why we lose sight of our true passions, why is it that life just gets in the way, why we find excuses for not doing the things that feed and nurture our souls. Surely, our entire body (that being our mind, body AND soul) is often focusohned on doing what we love most.
When we’re doing a job that we love, it often makes you happy, the days just slip by without that feeling of dread, when we say: “I’ve got to go to work today …” or “oh, the start of another week!”. Of course, I am not advocating that life is always perfect or that “stuff” doesn’t get in the way of pursuing your dreams and passions. When you’re dealing with the death of a loved one, it can be all consuming as many of you will know, and life can be temporarily put on hold, while you cope with the seesaw emotional roller-coaster. Equally, if you’re moving home or changing jobs, these are stressful times when your passions have to be put on the back-burner, as there’s often just not enough bandwidth in such a busy schedule.
The other day, I had the chance to speak with Architect of Change Dr. Tererai Trent about her new book, “The Awakened Woman.” In addition to being an author, Tererai is an internationally renowned scholar and humanitarian whose voice and incredible life story have inspired millions, myself included.
After Tererai and I finished our Architects of Change interview, she turned to me and asked a very simple, but profound question.
“Maria,” she said, looking me dead in the eye. “What breaks your heart?”
I stared at her for a bit, knowing that this was a big question to be asked. I knew this was not a question for my mind to answer. This was one for my heart and soul.
“What does your heart ache for?” Tererai asked, expanding upon her initial question. “What do you envision for the world, and for yourself?”
Over the years, I have interviewed many Architects of Change. I was also raised by two formidable Architects of Change. All of these individuals, in their own way, have asked themselves this kind of question — a question that has led them to their life’s purpose. But, no one I’ve met has ever posed it to me quite the way that Tererai did.
What breaks your heart? What does your soul long for? And, how is that connected to how you are living your life now?
This upcoming Saturday is National Make a Difference Day, but for me, every day is an opportunity to make a difference.
Over the years, I’ve noticed that the people who are passionate about making a difference all have something in common: they have drive. They have a purpose. They have a goal.
I deeply believe that every one of us has a calling, a unique gift, and a specific reason for being here on this earth. I’ve spoken to so many people over the years who desperately want to find their passion, but can’t seem to land where they think they should. What I’ve learned, though, is that sometimes all you have to do is look within you, and around you.
After working with more than a million people all over the world, I have come to believe that each of us is born with a unique life purpose.
Identifying, acknowledging, and honoring this purpose is perhaps the most important action successful people take. They take the time to understand what they’re here to do – and then they pursue that with passion and enthusiasm.
