While many of us are blessed with the innate
understanding of why we were put on this Earth, the vast majority of us are left grasping at ideas and notions of
what it is we are meant to do with our lives.
We listen to our parents, our friends, and our teachers, thinking that
they are able to tell us exactly what to do.
And while those close to us may certainly have good intentions, the
truth is that no one knows you better than yourself.
Many of my clients come to me, thinking that I, too,
will be able to pinpoint exactly what it is that will make them happy and can
tell them what they should do with the precious time they have been given. They soon discover, however, that a coach is
not there to give you the answers but instead, there to shine a light on the
answers that are already there. The very key these young adults so desperately
seek has actually been with them the whole time.
Of course, it would be naive to say that once you
find that passion, you’re all set! Our wants
gradually change and our needs slowly shift as we develop and mature throughout
our lives. The passion and zeal we have for something at
18 may not be as strong at 26 and the burning desire we have to do something
else at 34 may not leave us fully satisfied at 75. The beauty of life is that we are constantly
evolving and with each transformation, our passion can change and our purpose can
grow even greater.
My job, as I see it, is to help young adults
discover that particular thing that invigorates them, understand how that passion connects with their
purpose, and then help them recognize
the limiting beliefs and fears that can hold them back from realizing their
dreams. And while many have come to me feeling
lost and overwhelmed by the countless choices and possibilities that lay before
them, the truth remains that every single one of us has a unique gift and an
undeniable spark that ignites when we are being true to our hearts and living
our soul’s purpose.
So how do you find your passion or rekindle that
spark you think may have gone out? One
of the first things you can do is to create a list of things that make you
smile. Sit by yourself, close your eyes,
and wait until you can’t help but smile.
Sometimes the things we want to make us smile just don’t have the
ability to do so and that is okay. Try
not to judge your thoughts and focus solely on the ones that make your cheeks
puff out and your eyes start to crinkle.
Once you have your list, continue to add on to it on
a daily basis. Recognize the things that
make you smile throughout your day.
Maybe it’s the smell of your coffee or the quirky personality of a
teacher. Maybe it’s a memory of a
raucous party or a challenging game of chess.
Recognize these precious moments that fill you with warmth and make you
feel good. The key to finding your
passion lies in the simplicity of this exercise. Pay attention to what makes you smile and things
you never knew about yourself or had perhaps forgotten, will quickly start to
surface.
Look at your list, pinpoint the feelings that
accompany some of these things and ask yourself powerful questions. Dig deep and get to the root of the
feeling. Questions like these can be
very helpful and can guide you toward your purpose: “What is it about that makes me feel free?”
“What is it about __________ that I enjoy?”
“If __________ makes me feel
__________ what else will make me feel _____?”
“What would be possible if I woke up everyday feeling ______?”
Don’t worry so much about the answers to your
questions. Instead, focus on being
authentic and honest with yourself. Get
to know yourself and the things that make you feel good. Finding your passion and purpose does not have
to be a daunting task. It can actually
be a hilarious and thrilling process if you let it. Jot down the things that make you smile, discover
the things that make you tick, define your purpose and make today be the day
you start living with intention.
Copyright © 2014 by Maggie Steele. All rights reserved.
