Cheryl Richardson’s “Uncovering Passion”

presented by Bryan Jones

For most people, the road to connecting with passion begins with
practicing good self care. This means slowing down, spending time with
yourself, taking good care of your body and mind, nurturing your spirit,
and engaging in activities that will move you out of your head and into
your heart so you are more open to your feelings. As you’re better able
to be more present and connected to your feelings, you’ll be ready to do a
little exploring to discover the specific, personal things that best
ignite your passions. Let me give you a few examples:

For some, passion is experienced while engaging in a hobby or personal
interest outside of work. For example, my friend Peter is passionate about
sailing. Long before the warm weather arrives, Peter prepares his boat and
plans for the sailing season. When I mention the word “sailing”, his eyes
light up, he speaks with more emotion, and his gestures become more
animated. That’s passion.

For others, their work becomes a passion. My friend Max combined her love
of interior design and interest in real estate to start a business doing
spectacular renovations of rundown properties. Her excitement and
enthusiasm are so strong that I can actually feel her passion when she
shows me different properties and describes the changes she intends to
make. It’s no surprise that her properties sell almost as soon as they
hit the market.

If you feel out of touch with what makes you feel passionate, take heart.
There are a number of ways to reconnect with this feeling. You need only
to pay attention to the clues that surround you each day. Consider these
examples:

Books – Take a moment and check out your bookcase. Whether you read
fiction or nonfiction, books will provide you with many clues about what
inspires you most. As you look over the books, do you notice any common
subjects or themes? Which books are your all-time favorites? Why?

News – There are times when stories in newspapers or magazines will
inspire the pursuit of a passion. For example, you may read the story of a
misfortune that pulls at your heartstrings or a triumph that gives you a
renewed sense of hope. Are there certain sections of the paper that you
turn to first, or certain magazines that you always read? Look for
patterns . . .

Movies - What movies have inspired you? Are there certain movies that
you watch over and over again? Why? Once again, look for common themes.

Passionate People – Who are the passionate people in your life?
Remember that passion can be contagious! When you’re in the company of
someone who is totally consumed by something they feel passionate about,
it’s easier to connect with your own passionate thoughts or visions. Is
there someone you can think of right now who inspires passion?

Service – Have you overcome a major challenge in your life? Do you
feel inspired and motivated to use this knowledge and experience to serve
others? Being there for those in need can be a powerful way to experience
passion.

Passion comes in many forms. Whether it’s a beautiful sunset, a magical
night at the theater, or an afternoon filled with the laughter of a child,
pay close attention to those things that strike a chord with your
emotional core. When you connect with your passion, doors open, energy
ignites, and the world reveals the next steps to using this information in
some life-changing way. Just watch …

Take Action Challenge

This week, grab a notebook, create a “passion page” in your journal, or
open a file on your computer right now, and get ready to go on a little
treasure hunt to identify things that move you in a powerful way. Take a
few moments to quickly answer some of the questions from above. Then,
during the week, start to notice stories that inspire you, people whom you
admire, or times when you feel touched in a deep way. Capture these
examples in writing. As you keep track of these clues, you’ll find they
lead you to *your* passionate pursuits.

Anyone have a passion they’d like to share? Go ahead….leave a comment!