What makes you tick? What is the source of the "fire in your belly" that keeps you dreaming and reaching for... whatever it is? What is the one thing that you care about most and would give anything to have, be or do?
That is your passion.
A couple years ago, I read a book by Bruce Wilkinson called The Dreamgiver. Now, if you aren't of a spiritual mindset, the book probably won't have as great an impact on you. But if you do believe in God, Wilkinson tells a fresh new parable that supposes each one of us has a "big dream" and a purpose for our lives.
As I read The Dreamgiver, it affirmed what I already believed about myself from what I had learned about God. According to my reading of Scripture, each of us was uniquely created by God. And since we are uniquely created, with a mixture of gifts, talents and personality unlike any other person, each one of us also has a specific purpose in this life.
With that stage set, our task is to journey through our lives attempting to first understand, and then to live out, our purpose. Certainly, there are stages of life. What appears to be your "reason for being" at the moment can be altered as we go through the seasons of our maturity. What we are passionate about can change over time.
But since we can't predict the future, I think it is best to focus on the here and now in order to discover what our passion is. It is only in doing so that we will find contentment and fulfillment in our lives. To deny that which we were "made to do" is to go against the grain and frustrate the very essence of our beings.
So what is YOUR passion? If you don't know, start by writing down a list of things you enjoy. Then create a list of things you would do if money were no object. Let you mind roam freely and allow yourself to dream BIG!
If you can't do it in one sitting, that's fine. Rome wasn't built in a day, and sometimes big dreams can take a lifetime.
Regardless, continue to try to put words to your dream. Put a face to your dream. How does it look? How does it feel? How does it smell? How does it sound? Sense it with every fiber of your being and visualize it as a reality.
If it is truly your purpose... your reason for being... ask yourself why you aren't doing it now?
If there are obstacles in your way, write those down one by one. Then write down what it would take to overcome those obstacles.
Big dreams are BIG for a reason. They don't come easy. You have to work towards them. You have to WANT them.
Ask yourself... "How badly do I want my big dream?"
Once you know the answer to that question, you may have just decided whether or not your dream will ever become a reality.
I encourage you to not forsake your passion. Don't give up on your "big dream". See it. Embrace it. Pursue it with all your might.
And one day you might awaken to find yourself actually living it.
Dream, my friend. Dream BIG.
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
January 27, 2006 04:40 PM
What happened to the worldvillage email accounts? They cannot be accessed now and have not worked with sending or receiving for around a month now. =o( My acct is/was stumbeline@worldvillage.com
January 28, 2006 03:43 PM
My email only stopped about 3 days ago.. not a whole month.. sheesh I would 'die online' if that happened!!!