Over the next three of days I will be posting about ingniting passion. I will have a ‘chat’ about three areas:

• Igniting your own passion
• Igniting passion in others
• Using passion to facilitate change

Today…

Part 1: Igniting your passion

Regardless of how we change with time and experience the essence of our passion does not alter. Here are some ways you can discover and explore your passions:

Look to your childhood

A great start to finding your passion is to start with your childhood/teenage years although wanting to be a fireman may not have the same allure now as it did when you were a kid.

Using the fireman scenario though, let’s explore the essence of passion – how the heart of passion doesn’t change, and how we can ignite the same passion that we had as a kid.

• Climbing into burning buildings, risking your life for others and sitting around a firehouse seemed so alluring. But now we are older we can reflect and dissect what the essence is that we loved.
• Climbing into burning buildings: Was it the adrenalin rush? Was it the mystery of the unknown? Was it the reactive environment that sounded so intriguing?
• Risking your life for others: Did we want to be the hero? Was it the passion for service and helping others?
• Sitting around a firehouse: Do you like a lot of downtime? Do you enjoy being with others and sharing that brother/sister hood?

Once we can extract out what we liked the thought of we are well on our way to uncovering the wick which we can use to light our passion. Think about any hobby that you had, dream that didn’t eventuate and discover what it was that you loved.

Look to others

If you can’t remember what your passion was as a kid or scoff at the thought of what you loved, never fear there are many ways to explore.

What makes you go “Wow” when you hear about it or read about it? Would you like to try it? What is it that you like the sound of? Have you seen someone do or say something that has given you a tingle to the core? This could be passion stirring! Don’t ignore it…explore it!

Meditate

Meditation will clear your mind. It also has the ability to expand your mind. It connects you to your soul. Try doing it on a regular basis and see what opens for you.

Relax

If you focus too hard on finding your passion you will not always see it – a nasty trick? Perhaps many good things in life find us when we are not looking.

Relax with life, get out and experience as much as you can you may well trip over your passion!

How did you find your passion? Are you still searching?