Finding the Time for Your Passions

Posted on February 23, 2010 by Chris and Janet Attwood

Question:
How can I focus on what I’m passionate about when my daily life is so full of other responsibilities?

Answer:
Staying aligned with your passions does require focus.  It also requires a conscious decision to make your passions a priority because when you are living your passions, you are the best you can be for yourself and for others. 

The first key in our Seven Keys to Living Life Aligned with Passion is Commitment.  Until you are committed, nothing will happen for you.  There are many things and people who want your attention and your time. Keep your passions where you can see them and learn to say “no” lovingly. 

See how this feels when you say it aloud, “I so appreciate your asking, and I’m not able to do that now.”  The tendency is to use the word “but” instead of “and” in that statement.  Say it again and make sure you use the “and” as that word keeps you connected to the other person, rather than separated.  You can vary the words to best fit your voice and personality, but the essence of that statement should remain—“I love you AND I love me.” What this means is that you appreciate the other person, you understand their need and you value what it is that you need at the same time.

There is nothing more important to creating your passionate life than your unshakable commitment to choosing in favor of your passions.

Will there be times when you choose to do things that are difficult, challenging, or that may not be comfortable for you? Of course. If there are people who are part of your top passions and they have a need you can fulfill, you will step forward for them, even if it’s not fun. You may be immersed in living your passions, and yet find that there at times when things don’t feel easy. As you may remember from The Passion Test, when Janet was traveling through India, interviewing the enlightened, she fell off a mountain, got kicked by a donkey, and got amoebic dysentery three times, but none of that mattered, because she was loving what she was doing so much.

This concept of staying committed to you and your passions will become more natural and unforced the more aligned you are with your passions.  You will find that remaining persistent; the sixth step in our Seven Keys won’t even be a choice. You will find you can’t stop, even if you wanted to.  Your passions will become a powerful force for you in your effortless path.

If you have questions about what it takes to live a passionate life, then please join us on our monthly “Discover Your Passions” calls. We’ll take a volunteer through The Passion Test process and answer your questions. Use this link to register and submit your question.  We look forward to connecting with you soon.  http://bit.ly/bvE9ab

If it has been a while since you took the free Passion Test Profile, or if you have never taken it, now’s the time. Invest 3 minutes to find out how passionate you are, where you are blocked and what you need to do next.  http://bit.ly/dehPJZ

1 Comment     Comments

Barbara, Sydney Australia , February 28, 2010 at 4:10 AM | Reply I am a busy "older" mum and have taken a massive amount of time to get used to super-multitasking. I find if I do things in half hours (30 mins) at a time. I enjoy my day more and don't resent having so much of the mundane things to do in between my working life. Don't give up! But give in now and again the rest will be good for you!