Coach.

For the Passion Seekers

Passion

I was privileged and honoured to attend my parents 40th Wedding Anniversary Celebration on the weekend. Congrats Mom & Dad!

As I’m sure my mom would tell you, passion goes many more times than it comes in a 40-year marriage.

It seems nowadays everyone is so worried & consumed with finding their passion, or losing their passion for something. I really think our society has passion fear.

I think that fear can be overcome by purpose.

Here’s the truth about passion.

It’s not a 24-7 feeling. Maybe when you are first in love, start a new project, or the first day of school.

But then……

It fades.

I don’t care who you are. Where you’re from. How many jumping jacks you can do in a row. You will inevitably lose your passion for your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, your kids, your job, your money, your house, your car, and even your favorite houndstooth handbag with matching shoes! (GASP!)

I’d rather have purpose.

With purpose, passion can float into and out of your life freely. However, I don’t think it works the other way around. I’m not sure you can really have passion without purpose. I think purpose is the catalyst, platform or stage that passion requires to come in, do its dance and then exit stage left.

“Purpose is the platform that passion requires before it can showcase its dance to the world.” ~ Lisa Elle (You can quote that – I just made it up!)

Passion needs to know it has a stage to dance on.  It needs your purpose stage to showcase its awesomeness, because, let’s face it – passion is super awesome and contagious! Purpose can be dry and boring and all that “save the world” stuff that can get overwhelming at times.

Passion floats along dancing with other emotions as well. I would say passion is an emotion (like happiness or sadness), and like other emotions very much dependent on our circumstances, thoughts and feelings.

Here’s the thing about purpose.

When you have purpose, a mission, a vision, something bigger than yourself, tenacity will show up. You will be determined, persistent, and persevering in your actions. (PS. This is kinda the boring stuff I was talking about. Being consistent, persistent, and persevering is NOT exciting stuff!)

When you have purpose, you have something so much bigger going on in your life that you begin to throw emotion aside, put on your big girl panties, because you know work needs to get done.

When you have purpose, although resistance shows up in her mysterious forms wanting your attention, you don’t give it to her, because you know the work is great and needs to be done.

I woke up at 4:54 today. I want to be in bed. I went to pour cream in my coffee and it was rotten. If you know me, this makes me a miserable cranky person. I want to quit this day already 30 minutes into it! I feel my inner monologue this morning needs a bitch slap! (Maybe a bit harsh, but I’m telling you I’m down right Negative Nelly!)

So, I have no PASSION at the moment for this crap. Today, I already know I have 3 client fires to put out. I have a mound of emails I can’t wait to return. I have payroll to do and back-to-school stuff to figure out. I am in the final week of publishing my book and fine-tooth-comb edits. And blah, blah…..  You get my point. Life is happening. I have no passion for it at the moment.

However, I do have a purpose.

This purpose reminds me that what I’m doing matters in the world. Launching my book, my online course and Wealth Spa™  (yes, I trademarked Wealth Spa™!) in the next few months gets me excited and full of passion, but when the going gets hard, the passion dissipates faster than the inside icing of an Oreo. This purpose reminds me that I have people who depend on me, a message within me and a great responsibility to that message to share with the world.

With purpose, you can have a successful marriage if you are both aligned in that purpose. You can have a company that weathers the ups and downs of any market. Purpose as a parent means you can stand another day in the trenches. Purpose in your relationships, your community, in what you bring to the world. Purpose with your money and being a steward over the things you are blessed with. Purpose does all of this and more.

Purpose is our lifeline.

With purpose, you create a space and in that space hold what is bigger than yourself out there. You create something that others want to stand by and champion and cheer on. With purpose, I believe you create your passion.

So, if you aren’t “feeling” passionate about anything at the moment it’s okay! I repeat. It’s okay to feel you have no passion for something. Focus on your purpose in those moments.

When I think about my purpose a feeling of pride breaks out and I sing and dance and I want to share my overflow with the world. Passion is the freakin’-lick-all-the-icing-off JOY of life.

BOTTOM LINE: Passion will come when you have your purpose in life clearly defined. Passion needs purpose. Purpose doesn’t need passion. Purpose can get along just fine without passion, but passion is the icing of life! Find your purpose and your passion will ooze right out of you!