I began my corporate career several years ago doing work I didn’t love. I felt that I was destined to exist in a perpetual state of, “What do I want to be when I grow up?”
I did well in my career and learned much about myself and life. However I wasn’t passionate about the work I was doing.
I read a study in Forbes magazine where a group of 1000 professional women were surveyed regarding their well-being. The results were disheartening as 70% of women reported they were struggling with well-being. Statistics show that the well-being concern isn’t gender specific. Men also experience the same struggle.
I understand that. I was one of them once. I’m not anymore. I left that gig and started my own gig living out my purpose with a passion, coaching people on leadership and life.
You don’t necessarily have to make a dramatic life change to live out your passion. It may be a small shift. There are some steps you can take to begin and couple things you need to remember.
7 ways to Live your purpose with a passion
1. Take some time to explore. Do you know people who never vary from their daily routine? Everyday looks exactly the same as the day before. They’re not that interesting to be around and their conversation is usually about other people or something on tv. Exploring is a necessary part of transforming into who you were created to be. Explore new topics, new places, and new ideas. You should hear yourself say on a regular basis, “I didn’t know that.” The side benefit of exploring is that it leads to discovery. Discover yourself through exploring.
2. Create your vision. What do you want your life to look like next week, 5 years, or even 10 years from now? What are you doing to solidify that vision in your mind? Create a vision of what your life to look like. Every day take at least one step in the direction of your dreams and pursue making your vision a reality. You have a choice about your life. Visualize a future you can’t wait to live.
3. Do the unexpected. When we get into the rut of routine it’s almost as if we go through life in a semi-zombie state. Our brain starts to fall asleep and even die off a little because it’s not needed. Shake things up and go do something unexpected. You’ll be amazed at the intensity at which your senses are heightened.
4. Meet new people – When you hang out with only the same people all the time you become myopic in your thinking. New people stretch you. They make you consider new options and see things differently. You don’t have to agree with them, but it’s good to be challenged by them. Meet new people and learn something new about yourself.
5. Give yourself grace. When you pursue your purpose with a passion you’re transforming, becoming more of who you were created to be. Some of us think we have to get it right immediately with no margin of error. That thinking limits your options, alternatives and opportunities. You will make mistakes and that’s good if you use them wisely. Give yourself grace.
6. Try, try again. You will have bad days. You may even have awful days. Thankfully no day lasts beyond 24 hours. Try again. Always try again. Each new day is a new chance to make a change. To make a difference.
7. Enjoy the ride. I still have children at home. Sometimes after they have left for school I lament the fact that I have to take time to clean up after them. This morning I had a moment to reflect. As I looked at shoes strewn everywhere, trash (literally trash) littered around the floor, a table that was still cluttered with breakfast dishes, and an odd assortment of other “irritations,” I remembered that they won’t live here forever. The very things that I consider an irritation now will be the things I miss the most when they venture into the world to start their own lives. This is my life. Today I choose to find purpose in it, and enjoy the ride.
You only go around once. Life is too short to live a luke-warm existence. Find your purpose and pursue it with a passion.
Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. ~ Howard Thurman
About Kaylene
Board Certified Coach and President of KSMLifeCoaching, Kaylene Mathews equips and empowers individuals and groups to gain the clarity they need to achieve their personal and professional best through coaching and training services. She authors a twice weekly blog, monthly newsletter and just published her first book, available on Amazon.
Simple, powerful, excellent information.