A woman wrote to syndicated newspaper advice columnist “Dear Abby” in a quandary . Her children were grown and embarking on careers of their own, and she felt “incomplete.” She loved the field of medicine, and had every intention of going to med school after college but married, had kids and stayed home instead.
“I’d love to become a doctor,” she wrote, “but after eight years of medical school and a residency, I’d be 49!”
Abby sagely replied, “If you did NOT follow your passion, how old would you be in eight years?”
In our zeal to grow up and “be mature,” we can too quickly dismiss things we love to do as being “frivolous.” The words “job” and “drudgery” seem to go together frequently, and dreading Monday morning becomes the norm.
Imagine for a moment how different your life would be if you were so delighted with what you were doing, you hated for the workweek to end. Have you ever become so fascinated with and engrossed in a task that the entire day flew by? Do you find yourself grinning, or even laughing out loud, when out of the blue you get ANOTHER great idea for a project at work?
If so, you are living your passion. And if not, it’s time to figure out why you’re distancing yourself from your talents and your spiritual path. When we’re very young, we’re on a journey of self-discovery and exploring our world 24/7. What did you love to do when you were a kid? What did you want to be when you grew up? Who were your heroes? Chances are, the things that resonated for you then, those that sparked a sense of wonder and connection, were actually the things most closely aligned with your natural talents and strengths. Meditate on ways to bring more of your childhood passions into your life in ways that compliment and enrich your personal and professional paths.
Another way to figure out what your passion is – take a moment to think of who most annoys you, or makes you jealous. Those emotions can be evoked when we see something we unconsciously want in our OWN life happening for someone else. After you’re processed that uncomfortable fact, turn it around, and contemplate realistic ways you can incorporate some of that energy yourself. If someone is “frittering away their time” as an artist, sign up for a sculpting class. If someone is a “lame” musician, arrange for a few guitar lessons. Sampling something that resonates for you just might open an exciting and passionate new chapter of your life.
What would you do if you knew you could not fail? Spend some time meditating on the answer, and when you find it, go deeper. See yourself doing exactly that. Notice where you’re doing it, who’s around you, what sounds you hear, what colors you see. Breathe in the emotion of SUCCEEDING at it, and feeling the sense of jubilation that what was once a distant dream is, in your heart and mind, there for the taking. Energetically and emotionally validating your wildest dreams is the first step to bringing them into reality.
Perhaps the most important thing to realize is, it’s never too late to discover your passion. Grandma Moses, one of the country’s best-known primitive painters, didn’t start painting seriously until she was 76.
If part of your passion is being the best version of yourself you can be, set the dream in motion with the positive, powerful and lasting changes you initiate when you embark on a life-affirming visit to the Optimum Health Institute in San Diego or Austin, Texas. Our caring team can help you achieve your mental, physical, emotional and spiritual goals for optimal health. Visit our website at www.optimumhealth.org , and call us at (800) 993-4325 to make your reservation.