What is Your Passion?

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“Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music.” -Angela Monet

The person standing under the camel is one of the smartest and bravest people I know.  Following your passion isn’t a straight path.  It is a path littered with questions, self doubt, fear, challenge and tough times but never regret.

Few of us are able to remain true to what it is that we hold in our hearts.  This camel hugging costume designer has done just that.  In the face of adversity and tremendous challenge she has always known to stay true to her passion.

Not for the faint of heart.  Never the easy path.  Always less secure.

Recently, a close friend left to follow his passion.  Trained as a vet, living in a trendy part of Toronto he wasn’t in step with himself.  He knew that his passion was to raise sheep.  He knew that he had to make it happen.  He stepped in to his passion and moved across the country to his new farm.  He just welcomed the first of many sheep. By his own admission it’s the hardest  and most challenging work he has done in a long time,  he couldn’t be happier.

Two stories.  Two wonderful and inspiring people who have followed their heart and now reap the benefits.  These aren’t the lives that we most often praised.  In fact we often view lives like these with skepticism.  Most of us are taught from a very young age to do the right thing.  By definition this means doing what is expected and not letting our hearts guide our heads.

What talent and inspiration is lost every single day because we conform to a predetermined secure comfort zone?  How many of us hold ourselves in check because we fear our own passion?   What does unleashing it mean?  What is the cost of holding back?  What is lost because of it?

Everyday, I hear  the following:

  • I wish I had….
  • I’ve always wanted….
  • Do you think it’s crazy…..
  • I know what I should do but I’m afraid…..
  • When I was a kid I knew..it hasn’t changed…..

Sound familiar?  If you can finish any of these sentences then you are probably not living your life to its best and brightest capacity.  You may be successful but are you happy?  Do you feel fulfilled?  There is a difference between success defined by position and money and that which is defined as “living the best life you can possible live”.

If you were totally honest with yourself where would you place yourself?

You are probably thinking ” that’s great but I have responsibilities….”  I get it.  Responsibility is the reason that I have often deferred opportunities.  I have learned that deferred opportunities rarely come back.  I have watched  opportunities succeed and benefit those who were able to jump in.  Of course there are never any guarantees but is there with anything?

Does security really ever exist unless we create our own?  Hard to believe it does especially in a global downturn.

Is it any wonder then, that the people that I coach,  more often than not are ” Baby Boomers” who have been  downsized.  I hear on a regular basis,  ” I did the right thing…I thought it was the right thing”  followed by ” Now I’m going to do the thing that truly reflects who I am!”

What is your right thing?  Where is your passion directing you to go?  How can you rearrange your life to incorporate the best of you?  Is it really out of your reach?  Think about it.  Perhaps you could be hugging a camel in downtown Toronto or herding sheep on your farm.

It won’t be without sacrifice but then again nothing ever is!