Uncover your passion. “Passion is key to success,” said a friend. He said no one will ever be successful without passion.
Do you believe that passion is necessary?
I hope so.
What is passion?
Passion is a powerful or compelling feeling toward something. Your life gravitates toward your passion. Your life seems more meaningful when you pursue your passion.
At times, passion is compared to purpose. The purpose is your reason for being. However, it is very possible that one can pursue a purpose even when he is not passionate about it. But great things happen when passion and purpose are combined.
I say that we need to understand our why’s because it may lead us to that which are truly passionate about.
I talked about my passion for excellence. I encourage you to read that article too.
What Is Life With No Passion
Someone who has no passion will force himself to work. And work will tire him. Someone who practices positive thinking cannot stay positive without passion. I do not know how a person can be creative and innovative without passion. That’s how important passion is.
But still, we know of people who are not excited about life. It seemed like they live to exist. They do what have to do because that’s how they get paid.
Many years ago, I learned something about a neighbor who worked in a government office. From Monday to Friday, he leaves his house around 7.30 in the morning, then comes back after an hour. In the afternoon, he leaves at 4.30, then comes back an hour after.
I wonder how a government employee can work that way. If he was doing remote work, what’s the need of going to the office?
The purpose of reporting to his office was for attendance purposes only. I was told that he was doing that for the last 20 years.
He is a constant reminder to me of people who live without passion.
Uncover Passion
Passion is not something that we can invent. It is not something that your leader can give to you. Not even a motivational speaker can produce passion for you.
You know you have passion when you are willing to suffer for a cause. People spend money to live a life of adventure. When I was young, I learned that you can be rich by selling to people what they are passionate about.
Where to Find Passion
People always look for passion in the wrong places. Finding passion is not always easy for most people. They consult self-proclaimed experts — from astrologers to personal branding gurus.
People with passion do something that scares them because they follow their passion. They are willing to suffer.
But, where are we going to find passion?
Personality-type questionnaires will not tell you where your passion is. I will not discount the value of personality assessment and profiling. It has its use. But you do not answer a multiple choice questionnaire to clarify your passion.
Passion Is Within You
Any attempt to find it outside of yourself will be futile. No one can tell you what your passion is. No one can decide for you what your passion should be. Not even your parents. No even your girlfriend or boyfriend.
And that is good news. Finding passion is easier than you think.
Movies often romanticize passion as something a hero finds after a long journey. The hero is changed after finding his passion, something which has always been with him.
Love and Suffering Point to Passion
Passion originally means suffering. Recently, the meaning expanded to an intense feeling that moves us to action, and that feeling is usually seen as love.
So, do not be surprised when I tell you to do what you love. I believe all leaders will tell you the same. I cannot claim any originality. Passion is doing what you love.
A good exercise is to get a sheet of paper and write down everything that you love to do. I did this before when I decided to leave the academe.
I love to teach and share ideas with people. But then, I have other loves. I love to travel. I love to meet people. I love to build organizations. I love photography. I love being wealthy.
You get the point. I follow things I love to do and have. Okay, do the exercise now before I go to my next point.
Don’t cheat yourself. Do it now.
Okay, now that you have done what I told you. Listen. The next thing is more powerful than the first.
Passion will make you do what you love…but more importantly
Passion Will Make You Do Something Even If Doing It Will Make You Suffer
You nodded. You have not heard of that before. But you know deep in your heart that I am speaking the truth. You know it. But no one affirmed that you were right.
You are willing to suffer when you follow your passion. You are willing to pay the high cost of your dreams, your aspirations, your vision… of your future.
Forget the personality-type test… the horoscopes…and the wizards on stage.
Get your journal again. Reflect with me.
What is that which will make you rise up every morning even though your body says you do not want to go to work? What is that which will make you work long hours? What is that which you are willing to die for?
Here’s What I Wrote in My Journal Today
The past few months were terrible months for me. I felt like everything I did for myself, my family, and my company was not working. At times I thought that life was really unfair. It was easier to surrender.
But I did not and I will not.
My Child Keeps Me Alive
My Loved Ones Keep Me Inspired
And I offer to them my life.
And as long as I am alive, I will keep working harder and better. I am willing to meet clients even if I hate the traffic situations in Metro Manila — or the kind of people I am about to meet.
I am a man on a mission and my passion fuels me to action.
That should be all for today. I will not hold you any longer. You should give yourself more time to find your passion: that which you love…and that you are willing to suffer.
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