Find Your Passion!

by Sheryl A. Isaacs, MS
Registered MFT Intern,IMF71453
Supervised by Julie Carboni, LMFT, MFC42890
at A Place of Refuge Counseling Center
Scotts Valley, CA

Child Therapist and Family Therapist
*Parental Counseling
*Sibling Counseling
*Marriage / Couples Counseling
*Individual Counseling

Passion as I am discussing it,  is a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement about doing something.  When you are experiencing something that you feel passionate about you are:

                     -you feel alive
                        -in the zone               
                 -time passes quickly   
                 -you are immersed

When you experience any of these feelings, most likely you are engaged in activity that you are passionate about. 

However, some of us as we have grown have become overloaded with cares and obligations of life.  We are too stressed and overburdened to feel passionate about anything.  It is important that we take steps to slow down and live a life that is not so entangled with obligations and stress.

How can we do this?  The first step is to learn to care for ourselves.  We need to learn to engage in self-care.  Many times this is the first thing that stops when we become overburdened and taxed.  Basic self care includes exercise, proper sleep hygiene, eating a nutritionally balanced diet, staying hydrated and creating a positive support network.  Utilizing meditation and being mindful can help us learn to "live in the moment" and be fully present during tasks.  This will help us tune into what our experience is during various activities that we engage in.

We also must learn to s-l-o-w d-o-w-n.  Life for many of us has become a 24/7 job.  There are no down days, no days to just be.  Just as we do not live to eat but eat to live, we must learn that we do not live to engage in activities but engage in activities to bring fulfillment to our lives.  

Set a goal of prioritizing activities and commitments in your life. Learn to say, "No."  If you think about it the PTA can function without you, your child's class will be able to have enough parents for the field trip, etc.  Be committed to having one day a week to just be,  no commitments!  Let this day be a day committed to fun and play…that is best kind of self-care!

Set aside time each week to focus on simplifying your life.  Work on reducing clutter.  If you haven't used something in a year, chances are you won't use it in the future.  Chuck it, donate it, pass it on to a loved one or sell it on Craig's List.

By lowering your stress level and de-cluttering your life you can become more emotionally available.  By being emotionally available you can experience your feelings, be more aware of your needs and wants, and be free to find your passion in life.

Finally,  ask yourself what you enjoyed as a child?  What was it you spent hours doing? What are you really good at? What activities are you drawn to? Ask friends what they see as your strengths.  Don't be afraid to go out and try new things.  

Life is an adventure, go out and live it!

---

Google