When I was just launching my coaching practice, I looked at the self-help/business section at Barnes & Noble and noticed book after book on productivity, effectiveness training, time management, planning and goal setting. In my mind, that meant that people were spending money to learn how to master those types of challenges, and so I patterned my marketing around those issues.
Now, after having around the block a couple of times, I realize that for most part those are symptoms and not the real problem. Even though we pour tons of money and time into books, tapes, and seminars on general productivity, I’ve come to believe that the deeper issue is that many of us pour all that time and money into careers that don’t really matter to us.
The results, not surprisingly, are disappointing, because we’re trying infuse our work with energy and effectiveness, and those things don’t come from outside. They can’t be infused if there’s no passion, no purpose.
As I talk with people, it becomes very clear to me that one cannot be truly effective and successful without being passionate about what you’re doing. So how do you discover your passion? Where do you find your deepest, fundamental, core life purpose?
Now, after having around the block a couple of times, I realize that for most part those are symptoms and not the real problem. Even though we pour tons of money and time into books, tapes, and seminars on general productivity, I’ve come to believe that the deeper issue is that many of us pour all that time and money into careers that don’t really matter to us.
The results, not surprisingly, are disappointing, because we’re trying infuse our work with energy and effectiveness, and those things don’t come from outside. They can’t be infused if there’s no passion, no purpose.
As I talk with people, it becomes very clear to me that one cannot be truly effective and successful without being passionate about what you’re doing. So how do you discover your passion? Where do you find your deepest, fundamental, core life purpose?
The first thing to realize is that discovering your passion is a process, not an event. It is a journey, a pilgrimage, a time of exploration and adventure. You’re not going to sit down at your desk and get up five minutes later with your passion and purpose all written out on a post-it note. And once you do discover something that feels right, that is only the starting point! Your vision of your life will change over time. What seemed important (and probably was!) at 25-45 years of age will certainly look different as you move into the second half of life. But during all phases, as you grow and develop, you will become more steeped in your passion and your purpose.
Here’s an exercise that I like to use with people at the beginning of their journey to help them establish a vision. Sit down and get comfortable. Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Exhale and let go of any tension that you are carrying. Let your thoughts come and go and simply sink down into a still, quiet, contemplative place deep inside yourself. Now, think about your life in the future, a year or three years from now. Try envisioning yourself at an awards dinner, with you as the guest of honor. What would you be receiving an award for? Who would be giving it to you?
As you experience this visualization, you may realize that you already know what your passion is; you just don’t know that you know and so you think you don’t know. Think about the last time you stayed up until 3 a.m. talking to someone. What were you talking about?
If it’s been a long, long time since you did something like that, consider what one thing that you are currently doing that you would do for free. What is that would get you out of bed to go and do if no one was willing to pay you? If you’re a reader, what have the last ten books you really enjoyed been about? What do you believe? What do you love to do? What would you be doing if you could do anything you wanted?
Finding your passion and purpose in life is rarely as hard as one thinks it will be, but it is made harder by believing that passion and purpose have to be related to what we already do, or that we’re not “allowed” to have a passion or purpose in certain areas because of some limitation.
Before you spend any more time on effectiveness, why not take a little time to evaluate your passion and purpose? A great first step is would be to contact me for a 45 minute FREE life transformation strategy session.
In this session we will:
My new Facebook site is now up! Please visit. I’d appreciate your “Like!” and if you sign up for my e-list from Facebook, I’ll send you my latest time management suggestions.
Want to use this article on your website or your own Ezine?
Thanks for appreciating the value of this content. You’re welcome to reproduce this article, but you must reproduce it in its entirety and leave all the links active. Additionally, here is the short bio that you should include:
Dr. Steve Stutz, CTACC is a Life Success Coach, specializing in helping busy professionals and entrepreneurs not only survive but to thrive in life and business. To receive periodic personal development tips and success mindset articles, please join his e-list by visiting www.forwardpathcoaching.com
Here’s an exercise that I like to use with people at the beginning of their journey to help them establish a vision. Sit down and get comfortable. Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Exhale and let go of any tension that you are carrying. Let your thoughts come and go and simply sink down into a still, quiet, contemplative place deep inside yourself. Now, think about your life in the future, a year or three years from now. Try envisioning yourself at an awards dinner, with you as the guest of honor. What would you be receiving an award for? Who would be giving it to you?
As you experience this visualization, you may realize that you already know what your passion is; you just don’t know that you know and so you think you don’t know. Think about the last time you stayed up until 3 a.m. talking to someone. What were you talking about?
If it’s been a long, long time since you did something like that, consider what one thing that you are currently doing that you would do for free. What is that would get you out of bed to go and do if no one was willing to pay you? If you’re a reader, what have the last ten books you really enjoyed been about? What do you believe? What do you love to do? What would you be doing if you could do anything you wanted?
Finding your passion and purpose in life is rarely as hard as one thinks it will be, but it is made harder by believing that passion and purpose have to be related to what we already do, or that we’re not “allowed” to have a passion or purpose in certain areas because of some limitation.
Before you spend any more time on effectiveness, why not take a little time to evaluate your passion and purpose? A great first step is would be to contact me for a 45 minute FREE life transformation strategy session.
In this session we will:
- Uncover hidden challenges that may be the cause of chaos, stress and discord in your life.
- Create a crystal clear vision for your “ultimate life” of tremendous success on your terms with ample quality time and energy for all your priorities.
- Leave the session renewed, re-energized, and inspired to transform your life and accomplish all of the things that are really important to you.
My new Facebook site is now up! Please visit. I’d appreciate your “Like!” and if you sign up for my e-list from Facebook, I’ll send you my latest time management suggestions.
Want to use this article on your website or your own Ezine?
Thanks for appreciating the value of this content. You’re welcome to reproduce this article, but you must reproduce it in its entirety and leave all the links active. Additionally, here is the short bio that you should include:
Dr. Steve Stutz, CTACC is a Life Success Coach, specializing in helping busy professionals and entrepreneurs not only survive but to thrive in life and business. To receive periodic personal development tips and success mindset articles, please join his e-list by visiting www.forwardpathcoaching.com
Copyright: ilianamihaleva / 123RF Stock Photo
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