Want a Purpose Driven Life? The First Step is Finding Your Passion

Finding your passion is the first step to your purpose driven life. Defining your life purpose can make all the difference in your life. In fact, I venture to say that having a heart-felt purpose in life saves your life. In a purpose driven life, you live on purpose, with purpose and actually feel propelled forward through your day. When all seems bleak and crumbling, you still have your purpose to fight for – so giving up on life is ruled out as an option. Having hope is one remedy for depression, in my opinion, as without hope life seems meaningless. Having hope can be a purpose to live. The trick is to uncover your passions to find your purpose so you, too, can live a purpose driven life. And as I love to quote my colleague, Bill, “We may not always know our purpose, but we know we always have one.” To uncover your purpose, we must first own up to our passions. And owning up to your passion requires finding your passion.

Showing Horses vs. Trail-riding

Owning up to our own passions can be difficult at times. For example, as a child, I hung out at my best-friend, Heidi’s family ranch. We loved to ride horses and became heavily involved in Horse 4-H and Horse Showing. We spent countless hours riding around the ring putting our horses – mine, Cherish and hers, Princess –through their paces. We would rise before the sun on show mornings to help each other bathe our horses with the hose and massive amounts of shampoo, all the while knowing we would be getting our first bath of the day at the same time. Once all was ready to go, including the freshly washed horses, cleaned saddles and bridles, hay and grain and buckets, extra grooming supplies and Heidi and I were gussied up as well, it was off to the horse show grounds all in our finery. The goal was to have fun and win trophies and ribbons at the show that day.

I went to the shows with Heidi, her mother, Maureen and eventually her little sister, Kirsten. I was part of the family and absolutely loved being accepted and loved as an “adopted” daughter. I would go along and show my horse, Cherish, but I have to admit, my heart wasn’t in it like Heidi’s was. Heidi and Princess were a super team and it was evident. Cherish and I excelled in our own areas , but never really to the extent of Heidi and Princess, nor Kirsten and Ruby . For me, showing was just a way to be with my favorite people and horses. I would never have wanted to not be part of the horse showing because I would not have wanted to miss those wonderful times together. Sometimes we go along and do things for reasons other than because we are passionate about them.

Trail-riding was more my passion because it fit Cherish and I better. We both enjoyed poking along with the other horses and riders at a relaxed amble. We also enjoyed taking on challenges such as charging first up the “big hill” or leading the rest of the crew down the bank and across the creek. That to me was much more fun. I had to own up to the fact that Cherish and I didn’t have the passion to make it on the show circuit but we could take all comers as a team trail-riding.

One of the Greatest Things in Life

One of the greatest things in life is being able to turn a passion into the regular work that you love do. It can become your own purpose driven life. I have two inspirational people that are perfect examples of this in my Networking Stars group.

Marcella is the Owner of Wild Eyes Photography, www.wildeyesgallery.com. She has been able to combine her love and way with animals with her skill as a photographer. She is a highly sought after photographer for many organizations, such as the local polo clubs. She also takes excellent photos of individuals and their beloved companions. I should know because I’ve hired her talents on many occasions. She does more than just take pictures of animals. She also does professional shots for business people, but her heart lies with the animals. In fact, Marcella has a standing open invitation to Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, which is her favorite Pet Project and Charity. Marcella is a huge advocate of Big Cat Rescue so contact her or check them out at BigCat Rescue. I think you will see why Marcella feels so strongly about this organization.

Another inspirational story is the one of Tom and CHH – Children, Hope and Horses. Tom has combined his passions for helping children and his love of animals. Tom has helped them both with his foundation that brings together abused children and abused horses to work together to heal each other. It is such an admirable cause – but the healing and success stories that take place there are downright AMAZING!! I encourage you to check out Tom’s lovable miracle workers at www.childrenhopeandhorses.org. What are some of YOUR passions? What do you LOVE? Take some time to explore and allow yourself to own up to what you really want to do in your life and you will be well on your way to finding your purpose. Then the real living of a purpose driven life can start!

So, once you have an idea of what you want to do, are you already there? Or do you need to do some work to get there?

It takes time to evolve into the person we want to be, even if we believe we can do it (Let alone if we are unsure – which puts us in the category where most of us fall). It takes a concerted, consistent effort to move through the steps toward our goals. Or maybe the vision is unclear – something nags at us that there is more that we want to do – but what? And if we know the What, then How do we get there? Who will respect our dreams, support our goals and work toward helping us fulfill our desires? Who will focus on our agenda instead of driving toward their own? This is the purpose of having your own coach. Your coach’s mission is to respect, support and move you forward toward the very vision that you seek. We're here to help you.

Cheers to YOUR SuCCess! ~ Janus Moncur - The Co-Creative Coach™