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FINDING YOUR PASSION

Dear PWP Members:

OK, for all of you who read the heading of this column and thought it was going to be a hot steamy sex letter, well, you can just forget-about-it. In fact its not even a letter. It is something I have been thinking about for six months and thought it would be a great column to end the year and start another. We are going to be looking into finding the passion in YOUR life.

I have found my passion in life by doing this column. I receive a tremendous amount of letters every day from around the world. I can only use one letter a week and wish I could answer them all but there is not enough time in the day. The real joy I get is in the letters I get back from those who did receive a response from me. They wanted to write me to share what has happened as a result of my advice to their letter. I received a letter from a woman who lived in Nigeria. She was in a horrific marriage and was looking for help. She found me on the Internet not even knowing how she found me but did just the same. Her letter was so sad and compelling that hers was the one I choose that week. Several weeks later I received a response back from her. There were tears in my eyes when I read that she so much appreciated my response to her letter. She had printed out my response, folded it up and held it close to her heart to give her the strength to do what she needed to do. My feelings about this were very strong and gave me more personal satisfaction than any residual check I could receive. This gives me the passion in my life.

Several years ago I was talking to a rep for a large computer company. He had just gotten this position and when I asked him if he liked it he said yeah it was ok but there is something missing. I said what could be missing, you have a company car, company credit card and a good salary he acknowledged all that but he said there is still something missing. I asked him What is your passion. He looked at me as though I was speaking in Chinese. Passion he said. What are you talking about? Your passion in life was my response, what gets you excited about life, what gets you up in the morning? He said the alarm clock got him up in the morning. He wanted to know more about this passion stuff. I told him I think I know what is missing in his life, its passion. There was a somewhat blank look on his face. I asked him what was the only that he always wanted to do but for one reason or another could not. His face really strained and his forehead was riding up and down. Then there was this look of complete calm. He said that he always wanted to go back to school and finish his college degree in electrical engineering. He loved electronics and wanted to make that his way of earning a living and doing what he really liked to do. It was during my conversation with my friend that I wondered about others finding their passion. I had mine but was really interested if other people have found theirs.

I soon discovered by talking to a lot of people that most do not know what finding your passion is about. Most people thought it must be something to do with sex. They soon discovered that sex was not the right kind of passion.

People have jobs; they have to work to eat, put a roof over their heads and extra money for vacations. Most people are happy with their lot in life and many would like more toys and stuff. Even if they do have the great job or career the happy marriage, wonderful kids and fantastic in-laws, there is still something missing. A wisp of a feeling that you just cant put your finger on. You know there is something missing but are clueless. The missing piece is a passion in life. How do you find this elusive Passion in life?

If this column has held your interest to this point you are ready to take the next step. You have identified the missing part and want more information. Your life will never be the same if you take some action at this point.

You have to prepare yourself for the next step. You need to find a quiet time and place. No noise, no television, no radio, no cell phones in short isolate yourself from the world. You will need two things to go to the next step, a piece of paper and a writing instrument. Start writing down things that you have always wanted to do, never had time to do, or never thought you could do it. Maybe things that anyone else would think was silly. Dont pay attention to them this is your life we are talking about. You will have to peel away all of the should nots, could nots and what people would think about you for what ever you want to do. Nothing is silly or impossible. Lets face it, youre not about to fly to the moon so it needs to be realistic and attainable. This process is not going to be easy; you are stripping away years of negative programming. Not an easy task. Work on this until you find the real passion in your life. You will know it when you see it. It will feel like an inner peace you have never had. Then go do it.

I have a lady friend who is a restaurant manager. We were talking about her passion in life and after working with it she finally told me she really would like to sing country western songs. She acted as if it was something she could not do and of course I asked why not. When my son was seven years old he would sometimes give up on something he as doing and would say I cant do it. He would give up. I came up with a little saying that changed his ideas about not being able to do something. I would say, Cant never did nothing but could always tried. My soon to be ex-wife English teacher said it hurt her ears to hear that. He still remembers that phrase and he just turned 32 years old this year.

If youre looking for that missing something extra in your life, look inside your soul and find your passion, everyone has one and it is there just waiting to be discovered...by you.

A Happy New Year And The Best To You For 2005

Michael Stone

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