Putting Passion into Practice!

I had the great pleasure of being the speaker at the monthly meeting of the Good Ol’ Gals networking group last week in North San Diego County where close to 60 dynamic, creative women were in attendance. The topic was one of my favorites and very appropriate for the month of February: Putting Passion into our Work. Before making a career transition into my own career services business almost 4 years ago, I had made no connection between “work” and “passion”. Now I get it. I hope you do, or will, too.

What’s the Connection?
Passion is that powerful emotion that drives us to act or behave in certain ways. We can all relate to the romantic, February 14th type of passion; how and why does this emotion relate to work? Most of us spend an incredible amount of time working, usually more than just 8 hours per day. When you factor in morning preparation and 2-way commute time, you’re looking at 10 hours or more. That’s not even counting “mind time” when you’re still mulling over work issues without even being there!

What if you were doing work you absolutely love, work you feel “called” to do? What a difference that feeling, that passion, would make in those work hours. Imagine feeling fulfilled, completely engaged, and satisfied that you are making a contribution to others’ lives. Studies prove that people who do what they love for a living are happier and healthier – mentally and physically. They focus on the positive, less on negative, and therefore are less stressed. Family and friends find them more fun to be with, interesting to talk to, positive and expressive.

Ready to put some passion in your work? First you need to identify what your passions are by taking the time to answer the following questions:
1. What is it about your work that gets you out of bed in the morning?
2. What are you doing during the workday when time flies by?
3. What are you doing when, upon completion, you say “I can’t wait to do that again!”?
4. Complete this sentence: When my work life is ideal, I am…

This starts the process of putting more passion in your work. Your answers are clues to what you are happiest doing and get you closer to doing work you love.

To-Do this Week: Get a blank piece of paper and write answers to the 4 questions above If you already feel passionate about your work, maybe you can add a little more. If you have a good job but aren’t necessarily excited about it or able to leave just yet, here’s a way to make it more interesting. And if you’re in transition, actively looking for work, definitely take the time to do this exercise so your next job will include your passions from the get-go.

"Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
Howard Thurman, theologian and writer

Are you passionate about your work? Drop me a comment and let me know how you made that happen!