Got Passion?

We hear so much about identifying our passions. Or following your bliss, so to speak. This may be a vocation which excites you, or a lifestyle, or a hobby. From experience, I can say that having passions makes life better. Most people do not identify their passions by "figuring them out" in their head. They feel them in their hearts and bodies, in their emotions. A passion grabs you, keeps you interested, may make you lose track of time, and keeps you coming back for more. Passions are not always comfortable; ask any artist who struggles with their expression of their art. But it makes life worth living.

Specifically, how do passionate pursuits benefit you and your life?

1. Our short time on this Earth is well spent, as opposed to squandered on useless or harmful activities. We feel richer, stronger, braver, more fulfilled with a passionate activity.

2. We feel increased satisfaction, joy, and happiness when spending our time on our passions. We spend time anticipating the activity, enjoy the activity while doing it and feel satisfaction after completing it.

3. Often our passions turn into our legacy. What we do with passion is usually done well. Sometimes these result in a strong statement about your life and how you lived.

4. Living a passionate life often leads to less stress and more harmony. Being engaged in these activities brings us more energy, less anxiety and depression, often a sense of the spiritual, and makes us generally happier.

5. We are more interesting to ourselves and others. When we do something we love to do, we have a deep and abiding interest in something. We usually like to talk about it with others, both to share our knowledge and to learn more about it. It may deepen our sense of friendship, community and our place in the world.

6. Following your bliss can help you to live a longer and healthier life. Being engaged in a passion is one of the factors found to help lengthen your life and to support your health.

7. You become more centered in who you really are (underneath all the masks). Pursuing your passions is one of the best ways to express your true self. If you feel deeply about an activity, it usually means that it comes from your spirit or your heart. Just the act of following your passion can help you to understand your own desires and strengths and challenges. Self-awareness can lead to a more satisfying life and relationships.

8. Passions can be a way of "getting a life". Many of us live a shallow, unengaged life, just going through the motions. Discovering your passions can lead you to feel engaged and more whole, a part of things, a contributor to life instead of a consumer of life.

9. Doing what you love creates a sense of accomplishment. Accomplishing what you set out to do can increase your self-esteem, make you feel better about yourself and generally help with confidence in your abilities. Who doesn't need that?

So make your 2007 goal one of discovering at least one new passion for yourself. Get engaged, try new things, follow your curiosity, or seize on one of the opportunities offered you. If you need help with discovering your passions, I can help through my coaching and workshops. Contact me at maf@lifeunfolds.com.