This is the time of year that seems to bring up the questions of life and big change. Plenty of us work our jobs and pay our bills seeming to go through the motions, dreaming of a life with passion and focus. Now is the time to make the big change and find your inner fire. Here is the steps to get there.
Step 1. Pay attention.
Listen to others and listen to yourself. Be aware that you are having a strong reaction to something in your environment. Experience your world and pay close attention to what speaks to you. Take a moment to write ALL of these ideas down. You will create dozens of ideas/possible goals in this step, some better than others. But you want to write all of them down so that you can see a pattern or themes in your interests.
Step 2. The ‘why’.
You need to know why you want what you want. Know what is fueling the drive. For example, we may make a statement that we want to eat healthy. This is a fantastic goal, but its longevity holds tightly to the ‘why’. If you are eating healthy so that others will like you- you will fail at your goal at some point. If you are doing it so that you can feel like your body is running cleaner and you can teach your kids a healthy diet- you are way more likely to succeed. The ‘why’ is much more effective if it is a personal drive, not an outside source. Passion is one element of keeping you in for the long haul, no matter the barriers.
Step 3. Blind dive.
You may not have the steps, skills, or connections to make your goals happen- but that should not stop you. You need to make a clear decision that you are going to move forward no matter what. Plans change and steps can get muddy, but commitment will go the long distance. If you find yourself starting to falter; review how you got to this goal and why you felt so passionately about it. As you move along the path, you will learn so much and gain the knowledge to be successful. Starting the journey is really the only way to know exactly what you need to succeed.
Step 4. Go for it!
It is time to stop talking about all the wonderful plans you have in your future- start doing. As you act upon your goals, you will make many mistakes. Mistakes are a tremendous learning tool. So take a deep breath and go for it.
Step 5. Check in.
As you work on your goals, it is important that you check in. Not only are you reevaluating your goal for any needed changes, but also stepping back to make sure that you are seeing all the pieces. You will also need to check in with yourself and make sure it is still what you want. Make sure you are not sacrificing or moving in an unhealthy direction. Goals can always change- so don’t be afraid to move in a different, more positive direction.
My Challenge to you: Go through the steps and see what comes up. It is important that you pay attention to your head as much as your heart.
Happy passion finding friends!
– Jessie the Therapist
Photo by: Ian Schneider
