| Do you wake up in the morning looking forward | | | | doing? Where were you and who was around |
| to your work? If not, you're not alone. | | | | you? (e.g.teaching children how to watercolor, |
| Many of us spend years doing the daily routine | | | | overseeing the fundraising event for your church, |
| only to find that we wake up one day and realize | | | | managing the improvement project for the |
| that we're not happy. We went to college then | | | | customer relationship management system at |
| got a great job because this is what we were | | | | work). |
| supposed to do. It was an acceptable definition of | | | | - Review each item on your list. What was it that |
| success and we followed suit. Some of you were | | | | you liked about the experience? What exactly |
| lucky enough to find what you loved early in life, | | | | gave you that energizing feeling? After you have |
| get an education to support it and a job that | | | | gotten clear about this for each item, find any |
| pays you well. Congratulations for your early | | | | common theme. Circle or highlight the common |
| realization that doing what you love will reward | | | | words or phrases. This theme directly relates to |
| you. For the rest of us who may have taken a | | | | what you're passionate about! Was your common |
| little longer (or a detour) it's not too late to start | | | | theme teaching children? Teaching others about a |
| living your passion! | | | | certain topic? Were you around animals? |
| Perhaps, like me, it didn't take you very long to | | | | Note: Be open with your answers- no boundaries |
| discover that you wanted more. Whether two | | | | here. Don't discount something you recall enjoying |
| years or twenty, the result is the same- you | | | | because it's not what's typically considered |
| have decided that something needs to be | | | | appealing. Write it all down. |
| different or you might go crazy! When you are | | | | I'm not suggesting that everyone quit their day |
| not passionate about what you're doing for work | | | | job today to find their passion unless that is a |
| it takes much more energy to be successful than | | | | reality for you. Rather, start discovering what |
| if you had the interest and passion driving you. I | | | | you're passionate about. If you're like so many of |
| liken this experience (which I've personally had) to | | | | us who need the finiancial provision of a day job, |
| riding a bike, pedaling as fast and hard as possible, | | | | start living your passion in small ways. Check out |
| but it feels as if you're going up hill pulling another | | | | your monthly challenge below! |
| person behind you. Have you ever felt this? | | | | Your Challenge! |
| When you're passionate about what you are doing | | | | Decide what you will do to experience more of |
| you know it. Author and positive psychologist | | | | your passion this month. If you're passionate |
| Mihály Csíkszentmihályi describes this as "flow". | | | | about animals, but rescuing 6 dogs or starting |
| In other words, you lose track of time because | | | | your own parrot rescue nonprofit organization isn't |
| you are immersed and fully engaged in and | | | | a reality right now, what small step can you take |
| energized by what you're doing. While there are | | | | to feel that you are making a difference in the |
| times any work can get challenging, we tend not | | | | lives of your favorite animal? For example, start |
| to mind as much if it involves work that we | | | | volunteering one hour per week at your local |
| believe in and from which we feel stimulated and | | | | shelter, or donate money to your favorite |
| connected. Do you feel that way about your | | | | animal-centered charity. Take that small step |
| work? If not, here are a few critical questions to | | | | forward and feel the fulfillment and passion you've |
| help you discover your passion and decide what | | | | longed for. |
| you can do to start living it today: (get a paper | | | | You can receive more information like this |
| and pen out) | | | | automatically when you sign up for my |
| - What are you passionate about? | | | | complimentary monthly e-newsletter! Simply go |
| - Are you currently making time in your life to | | | | to and enter your email address. I do not spam |
| pursue your passions? | | | | so you will only receive emails from me! |
| - In general, what do you want more of in your | | | | The Launch Your Life e-newsletter provides you |
| life? | | | | with valuable information, a variety of resources, |
| - What have you always wanted to achieve or do | | | | and practical tools that challenge you to grow, |
| that you haven't yet done? | | | | fulfill your dreams and create the life you want. |
| - Were you at any point in your current work | | | | Simply go to and enter your email address in the |
| (whether employed or self-employed) passionate | | | | box to the right. |
| about what you're doing? If so, think about what | | | | For the men out there, share this valuable |
| it was that gave you that feeling. If not, what | | | | resource with the women you know! Simply |
| were your reasons for choosing that particular | | | | forward them a link to my website so they can |
| job/industry or type of business? | | | | sign up. This particular article is available under the |
| - When is the last time you felt energized by | | | | sign up box for the e-newsletter. |
| something you were doing? What were you | | | | |
