OUR PASSION … THE ENGINE BEHIND ‘THE WHY’

So what is your passion in life?  Are you pursuing or following your life passion?  If not, why not?  Three simple questions for you in this edition of Monday Morning Mojo … ok so I lied, they might not be so simple for most of us.  But really is there any thing more important than to regularly check in with ourselves to make sure what we are doing is what we are most passionate about?  If you listen close enough, oftentimes our successes and set backs, as well as the people around us are but reminders in our lives to live and share our passion.

This weekend I was reminded again in conversation.  Several people around me asked … so Jim, what are you really passionate about … and then the big ‘why’.  In our monthly networking meeting last week a guest (who I have never met) following the meeting asked me "what are you most passionate about?"  After sharing with her my response, she continued with ‘it would be great to bring people together based upon them pursuing their passions and not their day jobs.’ 

Gary Vaynerchuk in his book ‘Crush It’ devotes an entire chapter about pursuing your passion in life.  He sums it up by saying ‘passion is everything’ it is the ‘why’ and it is the vehicle that enables us to put the time, energy and effort into something to really make a difference.  The engine that allows for greatness!

Mike King in his blog about ‘Finding Your Passion in Life’ suggests a simple process to discover your passion.  Oftentimes the ‘what if’ gets in our way of finding our passions.  And for some of us we are not ‘wired’ to think this way; therefore, we never even ask the questions.  We are programmed to just get up and make a living … to plod along and provide for our families.  People get nervous when asked “are you living your passion” … why … well the obvious answer is probably that we are afraid the answer will come up … ‘no’!  Then what?  That ‘what’ is really ‘what if’ because the real fear is what if I pursue my passion and can’t make a living doing what I’m really passionate about.  The dialogue in our mind’s eye continues with arguments like … ‘what about the people who depend upon me every day?’  And about a dozen other excuses that prevent us from figuring out what is our real passion, and how can we live our passion.  It is that moment in time where we crawl out on the branch and discover if what we do has ‘real value’. 

Some of us believe that we don’t have to crawl out on that ledge.  That we can just join the work world and do our job.  And after a lifetime of ‘doing our job’ we get to retire, and then enjoy ourselves.  Personally that sounds more like a prison sentence than a real life.  But the other why is because we can only fake it so long; eventually everyone around us will know that what we are doing does not really ‘float our boat’ and we will probably find ourselves on the other side of the employment line. 

So like it or not, the questions of the day remain the same … what are you most passionate about; and are you living your passions?  My hope that each person reading this Mojo responds in the affirmative.  That would be really cool!!  But for those that in the personal confines of your own heart answer in the negative; then I hope you continue to ask and pursue these questions.  My hope is that you diligently engage in the process of self-discovery and never succumb to the ‘perceived’ easy way out.

I hope you enjoyed the reflection, and take the time to consider how these questions may present opportunities for you today and in 2010.  Most importantly, I hope you make it a GREAT day and week!!  If you wish to read all the other Monday Morning Mojos written for you, then visit: http://mondaymojo.blogspot.com.  As always, I welcome and encourage your feedback and your reflections (please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts with me).  If I can be of service to you or your friends, please let me know or visit us at http://www.coastalcommunityhomes.com.  And, thank you for your continued support and inspiration … each of you are a cherished gift that enriches my life in ways you will never understand … Thank you!!  Jim Peys