“One of the things that may get in the way of people…is that they’re not in touch with their passion. If you’re passionate about what it is you do, then you’re going to be looking for everything you can to get better at it.”
— Jack Canfield
Find Your Passion
Are you passionate about what you’re doing now?
Is what you’re doing now the very thing you dreamed about?
If you could do it all over again, would you do it all over again?
Mark Twain said, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born, and the day you find out why.” The most important day of your life is the day you knowingly connect with your purpose.
Passion and Purpose are inseparable
I have spoken to many successful executives over the years and found they all have one thing in common; they’re passionate about what they do. They awaken before sunrise, often motivated and inspired (before coffee), hitting the ground running.
They know who they are, what they stand for, and where they’re going. Every decision they make is intentionally contemplated in the light of their purpose; The why behind their decisions flows from the why behind their existence.
Finding Your Purpose
I’m sure you’re familiar with the phrase “just living the dream.” Though most of us use that phrase as a figure of speech, not realizing it describes the reality of living our purpose.
Finding your purpose isn’t a mystery since it’s what you’re born and designed to be and do. Typically, there are two ways to uncover your purpose.
What are you most passionate about?
What are your most naturally strongest gifts?
We are always most intuitive, creative, and energized in the area of our giftedness. We never tire of operating in the areas of our giftedness.
John C. Maxwell often mentions his college teacher in Psychology 101, asking, “What do you sing, cry, and dream about, realizing he was talking about passion. Maxwell says,
Those are words of passion.
Those are emotional words.
What do you sing about? What really makes you happy?
What do you cry about? What makes you really sad?
What do you dream about?
What if you could be anything you wanted to be or do anything you wanted to do? What would you be, and what would you do?”
Maxwell continues, “All that is passion. That is essential, as we are going to find out in a moment, developing great purpose. If you are going to find your purpose and live it out, you have to ask yourself,
“What am I passionate about?” You have to ask yourself, “What am I gifted in? What do I do well?” The reason that you need to know that is very simple. It is in your giftedness that you are effective.
So, therefore, when I can match my passion—sing, cry, dream—with my giftedness (the things I do well), I have discovered my purpose, and now I am going to be able to develop that purpose. I am going to be able to take that and use it to beautifully add value to my life and the lives of others. When you find your purpose, you find your why.”(1)
In Conclusion
I never regretted the decision to follow the visions, dreams, and strongest desires of my heart, they always required me to develop and use the gifts and talents that came so naturally to me.
Knowing what you were born for allows you to be persistent in pursuing the objectives of your purpose-directed passion-driven life. Whether you start earlier or later in life, you’ll never regret the decision to realize your dreams by following your internal compass.
Quintina Ragnacci encourages, “Figure out what your purpose is in life, what you really and truly want to do with your time and your life; then be willing to sacrifice everything and then some to achieve it. If you are not willing to make the sacrifice, then keep searching.”
End Notes
(1) John Maxwell Academy - Discover Your Purpose https://bit.ly/3Saas6P
*** This article was authored by John Picarello, Chief Leadership Officer at Lions Pride Leadership Co. ***