Thursday, March 23, 2017

Passion Party #579 - Purpose Vs. Passion

There is a lot of fear going around.  I feel it.
I see it in the news. I hear it from my friends.
At times like this I feel a need to rise above, to filter out the noise.

I am lucky.  I found a job that I love, a job that lets me help people get to their goals, a job that relates to my purpose in life. 
I love to use my talents to inspire others and help them build a better life, whether it is through banking or music or education.

Some people are not so lucky.  They struggle to find their purpose in life.  They may feel lost, or on a treadmill, not really living - just existing day to day.

"Finding Your Purpose In Life" can be a drag.  It can feel like another chore.  Why bother?

Better to find the passion in your life.  What lights your fire? What makes you want to wake up in the morning?  If money were no object, what would you do today?
Even here the answer may not be so obvious.  It might not be the first thought that comes to mind. But do it, take action, see how it feels.  Can you wear this comfortably?

When you find your Passion, your Purpose will follow close behind.

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Passion Party #578 - Context Vs. Content

Most people want the short answer, the quick fix.  "Just tell me what to do and I'll do it".
They think if you give them the answer, they will know the question. But just like Carnac The Magnificent (OK kids - Google it) the answer might lead to the wrong question.

There are hundreds, probably thousands of books and articles about how to be a positive person - the power of positive thinking, etc.  The steps of "How  to" are easy and simple, virtually anyone can really do them.  The "What to do" is a short list, nothing to it.

But before we get to the content of any discussion, it is important to set the context.  The "Why" is the key.  The "what's important about being a positive person, to you?" must be explored.  Otherwise it is just another feel-good pamphlet sitting in that stack at the edge of your desk; another book of affirmations that you never open.

Context is set by asking probing questions, giving examples, analyzing what actually changed in people's lives and what triggered the change.  Change is the one constant in life, and change is hard.  It is so much easier to stay in the status quo, to accept that, maybe, life sucks a large percentage of the time.

Or maybe - when we have established the context of Positivity, the How and What will become not only easy, but will make sense and be worth pursuing.