How do you realize more passionate goals when the details of life blur the lines between so-so accomplishments and those that really light your fire? How much of your day-to-day drudgery is taken up with details so you don’t get to the more exciting changes?
— In the goals hierarchy, you first address basic survival needs of food, shelter, clothing and health maintenance. As simple as this seems to mention, do you sometimes pursue dream goals by sacrificing your basics needs – postpone meal times and sleep, or work long hours at a time? Then don’t be surprised when you don’t have the reserves for follow through on your important goals. Handle the basics first, then move on to goals that increase in their emotional and spiritual payback.
— Each day know which goals you have a deeper personal or professional investment in and keep those in the forefront with all that needs to get done. You can avoid distraction and get to your bigger goals with less detail on short-term goals. A shortened to-do list may start with 20 items a day, of which ten are general to-do’s, five must get done, two can be permanently eliminated and three might reflect your actual passions.
— Passion is an intangible, force within us, an intrinsic motivator. Goals that involve a true engagement from you, that move beyond the realm of ordinary tasks and responsibilities, are passionate goals. Passive activities are not always exempt from passion, such as active listening. Remember Tom Hank’s character in the movie Philadelphia, when he introduced a classical piece of music to Denzel Washington’s character? The more you are engaged, the more you connect with your deeper passion.
— A personal objective to experience passion in all one does is noble. You may get enthusiastic about day-to-day projects and like to tick them off your list, but typically these are not passion goals. You can find satisfaction in cleaning your office, for example, but too often these goals become a substitute for goals requiring more vigorous self-challenge and greater responsibility.
— Check in with yourself once a week or once a day to see if the activities taking up most of your time reflect your honest passions. Reexamine even your bigger activities with a free mind – not cluttered with preconceptions such as, “Of course I’m supposed to be doing this. After all, I’ve put in six years with this already.” Have the courage to change course if you need to.
Once you identify what your passionate about, you can make the choices to which you’re truly committed.
Laurie A. Sheppard is a master certified Life Coach and Career Strategist to mid-level professional women and women entrepreneurs who want to make quality career and personal changes.
Ready to change your life? Contact Laurie at info@creatingatwill.com or call her at 310-645-2874. Sign up to receive monthly career tips
c. 2006 This article is free to publish in its entirety, with a courtesy email to info@creatingatwill.com
