Evolve U

Passion’s for the birds! It’s for those with lofty hopes and outlandish dreams. You know, those people who think anything’s possible. But, not you. You’re a realist. You won’t be fooled into believing all that “passion-purpose talk”. With your feet on the ground at all times, you relish in the fact that you’re one of the seemingly few who have a clear understanding that times we currently live in call for pragmatism and practicality not “a-ha!” moments and “light-bulb” ideas. To the wing-and-a-prayer folks you say, “Passion…Who Needs It?!”

Here’s a reality check: EVERYONE needs passion. Whether you’re an astrophysicist, entrepreneur or artist, passion is essential to your long-term personal and professional success. If passion isn’t interwoven into your personal fabric, you can never truly be self-actualized meaning the freedom that allows one to be fully innovative expressive, spontaneous and ultimately fulfilled will remain elusive until you reignite your inner fire and let it burn bright.

Still skeptical? Unlike its short-term counterpart, “desire” (to want something usually until satiated), “passion” (the refusal to live without something) offers long-term benefits that net big rewards. (C’mon, admit it…you know you like rewards).

REWARD #1

Passion gives you purpose and meaningful structure to your days and nights. It makes you a richer person emotionally and, in turn, makes the world and people around you richer, too. It gives you a reason to keep learning and keep living. It propels you toward new ideas and new skills to master. What is sometimes called ‘the fire within’ gives you a reason to reach out into the world for new experiences. It connects you to other people of passion and makes you part of a community. And when you’re in pain, engaging in an activity that you’re passionate about can be a refuge, a distraction, a solace.

REWARD #2

Passion is motivation. When you’re doing something that you’re passionate about, you have a never-ending supply of tenacity to keep you going. When you love what you do, although you might be feeling physically drained, you don’t complain. You’re so focused on the joy that you get from pursuing your passion that everything else – discomfort, stress, sleepiness — recedes into the background.

REWARD #3

Passion makes even difficult times feel easy. When you’re doing something that you consider fun, you’re happy. Happiness is passion’s best friend. When you’re doing something you hate, it’s a struggle. When you’re doing something you love, it’s a joy. So if you can identify something that you enjoy doing and that never feel burdensome, chances are you’ve come face to face with your passion.

REWARD #4

Passion is a fountain of creativity that never runs dry. Is there an area in your life where you find yourself thinking ‘outside the box,’ coming up with an endless stream of creative, inventive, and exciting ideas relating to that subject? If something gets your creative ‘juices’ going, chances are it’s your passion.

REWARD #5

Passion gives you leverage. Don’t limit yourself or worry that the thing you like to do isn’t ‘good enough’ or ‘practical.’ Many people have taken their natural talent for impractical things and turned their passions into full-fledged careers such as the ‘natural’ mentor who becomes a well-paid business coach or the creative writer who becomes a well-recognized and profitable blogger. That’s one of the great things about passion. You can use it as the foundation of a satisfying (and lucrative) career.

Years from now, when you look back at how you lived your life, you’ll be filled with either joy or regret. Your memories will be joyous if you reflect on a life that was rich with things you tried. Even if those things didn’t work out quite the way you imagined they would, you will still be joyous as you celebrate your efforts because it is always more fulfilling to try and fail than to simply do nothing. Lose the pragmatism and dare to be passionate. You’ll be glad you did!

FINAL THOUGHT

“Find your passion, whatever it may be. Become it, and let it become you and you will find great things happen FOR you, TO you and BECAUSE of you.” ~ T. Alan Armstrong

If you were to build your dream home, what would it look like? Would it have five bedrooms, three bathrooms and a den? How about a 12-seat theater room with lush seating and Dolby Surround Sound speakers? Maybe a heated indoor pool with Jacuzzi? Or perhaps an exercise room that would rival that of Bally’s and Gold’s Gym?

Now that you’ve outlined plans for the aesthetic features of the house, what materials will you use to build the framework and structural skeleton of the home? Considering your specifications, you’d have to use strong, durable materials to support the house both internally with its bedrooms, bathrooms, theater set-up, Jacuzzi and exercise room and externally to endure annually harsh Winters, rainy Springs, windy Autumns and blistering Summers. So it makes sense that you’d want the strongest, most solid, durable and enduring materials possible to protect your investment. Most likely, then, your architect will recommend using metals to build your home.

Metals in general have high electrical and thermal conductivity, luster, density, and the ability to be deformed under stress without coming apart. Metals such as aluminum, copper, steel, zinc and terne are most used in the construction of residential and commercial buildings in the Unites States because they are strong, versatile, durable, corrosion-resistant and pliable. They are also energy and cost efficient, virtually maintenance-free, provide long service life, are recyclable and have aesthetic appeal. Most importantly, homes built with metals are able to withstand the external demands of the seasons while accommodating the internal demands of homeowners.

Let’s picture ourselves in the same vein as our dream home. It’d be nice to be smarter, faster, more attractive, wealthier, more popular, etc., right? (I, for one, could stand to be a little taller and, admittedly, a little thinner). While we each have a respective laundry list of aesthetical features we could easily and readily demand, it’s our foundational and structural character that should command our greatest attention for without a strong, durable structure, our proverbial dream home (a.k.a. whom we aspire to be) would be structurally unsound. We would waver, wobble and eventually fall. Like our physical dream home, our proverbial dream home requires a framework or structural skeleton made of mettle.

Mettle is the inherent quality of character, temperament, disposition, fortitude and spirit of a person. Mettle is the intrinsic material that is able to withstand the external demands of the seasons – harsh job market, rainy economy, windy housing market and blistering personal finances – while accommodating the internal demands of homeowners – our individual desires to work harder, be smarter, think faster, save more money, etc.

Like metal, mettle is strong and durable to meet demand; versatile and pliable to meet any challenge; and corrosion-resistant against rust or the problems and burdens that can weigh us down. It is energy efficient so as not to drain us of our other resources (i.e. love, faith, happiness, etc.); provides long service life to endure recurring issues; and is virtually maintenance-free – doing its job automatically without prompting, booting or ignition. What’s best is that mettle is recyclable and renewable so that you always have access to an abundant supply when you need it most.

As mentioned earlier, aluminum, copper, steel, zinc and terne are the metals most used in brick and mortar construction. Heart, nerve and spunk are the “mettles” that make our metaphysical structure. Although synonymous, each plays a uniquely distinct role in the building of our character.

Heart

Known as the center, core or innermost part of our personality and emotion, the heart gives us the capacity to tune into our intuitions, feelings and affections. It allows us to experience benevolence, compassion, concern, love, pity, sentiment, sympathy, tenderness and understanding as well as summon courage, boldness, bravery, purpose, spirit and will.

Nerve

Nerve awards us with daring and brazenness. Nerve emboldens us, gives us strength and offers us assurance, bravery, chutzpah, confidence, coolness, courage, determination, endurance, fearlessness, fortitude, grit and might.

Spunk

This quirky idiom delivers to us audacity with a hint of arrogance. Spunk gives us a backbone. It’s the “stuff” determination, doggedness, fortitude, gumption, guts, intestinal fortitude, moxie, pluck, resolution, toughness and defiance are made of.

We can easily identify these mettles in others…

• The weary and worn boxer who battles valiantly through twelve brutal rounds of fighting against a much larger opponent is said to have heart.
• The film director who defies convention by directing a film on a taboo subject is considered to have nerve.
• The sixth grader who sets off on a 2,500-mile “March Across America” from Tampa to Los Angeles to raise money and awareness of the plight of homeless kids in America is believed to have spunk.

…but often find trouble recognizing them in ourselves.

How comfortable would you be if the metal in your dream home was only strong enough to support the house during fair weather? You’d be very uncomfortable and consider that house with the unreliable metal structure a poor investment of your time and money. You’d also find it unsafe during inclimate times and impractical for everyday use because of its unpredictability.

When you ignore, depress or suppress your heart, nerve and spunk, you lose the ability to be reliable and structurally sound to yourself and to others. In other words, during those “hanging in there” moments when situations rock you, you don’t have the intestinal fortitude and wherewithal to push through and past them. Your structure is weak and unpredictable.

These mettles don’t just provide structure, they build character all-year round, in both good and bad times. They help us survive and give us the support, stamina and endurance needed to overcome obstacles, withstand defeat, endure hard trials and laugh in the face of failure.

They also service as our personal coaching and mentoring team providing us with the validation needed to be more of what we want to be (successful, prosperous, happy) rather than be resigned to what life dictates we should be (troubled, worried, anxious). Spunk encourages us to do something audaciously spontaneous; nerve to do something brazenly bold; and heart to do something brave and spirited. So, the next time you feel uncertain, unsure or afraid, rest in the guarantee that your heart, nerve and spunk will kick in and give you the courage, daring and determination you need to make a decision, stand on your convictions and move forward towards the goal ahead.

Go ahead…build that dream home!

FINAL THOUGHT

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Wizard of Oz is an iconic 1939 American fantasy film based on the 1900 children’s novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. It features film legend Judy Garland in the role a 12-year-old Kansas farm girl, Dorothy Gale, who seeks to live far away from her humdrum farmhouse existence in a place “where there isn’t any trouble”.

Due to a series of unfortunate events initiated by a tornado, Dorothy is rendered unconscious. While unconscious, Dorothy fantasizes that she, her dog, Toto, and the farmhouse have been transported to the magical and seemingly trouble-free Land of Oz. There, Dorothy encounters Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, who advises Dorothy to follow the yellow brick road to the Emerald City and meet the “all powerful” Wizard of Oz, who can return her to Kansas. During her journey, Dorothy meets a Scarecrow, a Tin Man and a Cowardly Lion, who join her in hopes that they will receive what they lack themselves: a brain, a heart and courage (respectively) while also attempting to avoid the Wicked Witch of the West and her attempt to get her sister’s ruby slippers from Dorothy, who received them from Glinda. After overcoming insurmountable odds, Dorothy and her friends defeat the Wicked Witch of the West; learn valuable lessons about courage, bravery, innovation, gratitude (and themselves); receive their hearts’ desires; and, of course, live happily ever after.

The Wizard of Oz has many symbolic interpretations however there is one that is often overlooked: the art of illusion.

There is a scene in the film in which Dorothy, Toto, Scarecrow and the Tin Man, traveling to the great land of Oz, enter a dark, thick forest which immediately terrifies Dorothy. She trembles with fear and says, “I don’t like this forest. It’s dark and creepy…Do you suppose we’ll meet any wild animals?”

Assessing the environment and believing in the high probability of attack, the Tin Man surmises that the forest will be filled mostly with “lions and tigers and bears.” (Note that Dorothy, Tin Man and Scarecrow had just cause for concern. Lions, tigers and bears are fierce and extremely dangerous animals. Individually and collectively, they are to be rightfully feared for the abilities to devastating and usually fatal damage to their prey.) Intrinsically aware of that fact, a dialogue ensues.

A timid Dorothy asks: “Lions?”
An even more frightened Scarecrow echoes: “And tigers?”
A concerned Tin Man exclaims: “And bears!”
Dorothy exclaims: ” Lions…and tigers…and bears, oh my!”

As they march along the twisting Yellow Brick Road, fearfully repeating the phrase and rapidly gaining speed, a ferocious-looking lion bounds into their path with a strange roar. Both Tin Man and Scarecrow back away and cower on the ground. The lion then stands on two feet and challenges them with his bravado. After posing a threat to Toto, Dorothy summons the courage to resist the lion only to find that he is cowardly and is in fact, no threat to any of them at all. The Cowardly Lion had, until the point of confrontation with Dorothy, been living a lie. He was operating under the illusion that he, the mighty king of the jungle, was ferocious, fearless and brave when he was really timid, fearful and harmless. He was far different from what he looked to be.

There are three things that threaten your journey to the great land of success: illusions, mirages and myths. Individually and collectively they are cause for concern because they can cause devastating and fatal damage to your hopes, dreams and plans. If you can summon the courage to resist their bravado, you can live successfully ever after.

Illusions
Illusions are defined as “those things that deceive by producing a false or misleading impression of reality”. An example of an illusion is an obstacle. Obstacles obstruct and hinder progress by producing the false and misleading impression that they cannot be overcome. They ferociously bound into your path to get you to focus on them and to convince you that they are so insurmountable that your goals can never be reached. Never take your eyes off of The Emerald City. The Yellow Brick Road will often be cluttered with debris but if you continue to look up, ahead and forward, you’ll pay less attention to impediments.

Mirages
A mirage is “an optical distortion that forms under certain atmospheric conditions, in which nonexistent objects seem to appear.” Mirages are most often experienced in a desert. Extreme heat, lack of water and shade, and desperation are the usual catalysts for the optical distortion. Fear – the distressing emotion aroused by real or imagined impending danger, evil, pain, etc. – can also cause mirages. Fear signals to your brain that conditions are extreme, dire; that you have no resources (money, talent, skill, etc.); and that you are desperate. Desperate people often take desperate – not the most expedient – measures, resulting in remorse and regret. Fear causes you to panic and lose focus. The best way to see past a mirage is to embrace reality: good, bad, indifferent and prepare a plan. Preparation thwarts fear and uncertainty and helps to minimize the frequency of mirages.

Fully assess where you are currently (i.e. job, finances, relationships); be honest and truthful. Brainstorm ways to improve your situation (no idea is too eccentric). Narrow your ideas to the 2-3 of the most implementable and build a strategic plan accomplishing them. Finally, work your plan.

Myths
A myth is “an unproved or false belief that is used to justify a social institution; a fiction or half-truth that forms part of an ideology”; in essence, “a lie”. Failure is also lie or myth. None of us are perfect. To err or to fail is human. We all fall short of achievement at one time or another. Failure is another story. Failure is the state, being and condition of constant insufficiency. Its function is to pinpoint our individual errs and missteps and sort them into patterns over time. Repeated patterns are falsely labeled as trends of under-performance. Failure asserts that you are subnormal, your efforts to date have been subpar and that future attempts at success will be met with sub-standard efficacy. Failure and its assertions are bold-faced lies. It is tempting to believe the myth of failure. However it takes courage to know and accept the truth that although you may fail, you are not a failure. It is just as to easy for focus on all of your successes as it is to center your attention to your faults.

Surround yourself with reminders of the things you’ve accomplished. If you have certificates, awards and commendations, hang them up so that you can see them every day. If you have letters of recommendations, read them frequently. When you accomplish a task – large or small – revel in your success. Enjoy the truths of what you’ve accomplished and say goodbye to the lies.

Just beyond the ominous forest of defeat, away from sinister predators, illusions, mirages and myths, awaits an Emerald City of prosperity, fortune and gratification. Keep your eyes on the prize, click your heels thrice and say with a smile, “There’s no place like success. There’s no place like success.”

FINAL THOUGHT

Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome. ~Booker T. Washington

It’s 2:00am. You are sitting in front of your computer…staring into cyberspace…contemplating your life’s purpose…again.

Everything you know…once knew has changed. Until today, your life was planned.

You knew what you were supposed to be when you grew up, what you would do with your life, when all your hopes and dreams would be fulfilled, which milestones you would make, how you were going to retire early, when you’d travel the world, where you’d meet your soul mate, what you’d say if you had 15 minutes of fame or perhaps what you would do if you won $15 million. Yup…you have (had) a plan, but:

What happens when circumstances change and your plan was no longer in effect?

What happens when you no longer know who you’re supposed to be,
what you’re supposed to do, where you’re supposed to go
or how you’re supposed to get there?

What happens to the enthusiasm and zeal you had regarding
your career or that milestone or those hopes and dreams?

What happens to you? Your mindset? Your fervor?

Understand that a plan is just that…a plan. It is nothing more than a map or diagram that indicates the best path or course of action to take along a desired route. Passion? That’s another story.

“Passion” can best be defined as “any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling; a strong or extravagant fondness, enthusiasm, or desire for anything”. It’s that “joie de vivre (joy of living)” that wakes you up in the mornings ready to conquer the world. It’s that drive that challenges you not to settle for incompetence and/or complacency. It’s the pride you feel with every accomplishment. It’s what makes you stand out from the crowd.

If your plan fails, you can always draft a new one. If your passion fails, how do you get more? Thankfully, passion doesn’t “fail” (per se). It is merely misplaced or displaced.

While both “misplace” and “displace” share a similar definition (“to put something in a different place from where it should be”) each has a distinctive characteristic. When something is displaced, it means that that otherwise solid and immovable thing was shifted, deposed, ousted and supplanted from its original place to a new location that is most likely difficult to find. When something has been misplaced, that thing has been put in a wrong place and forgotten about.

Misplacement occurs because of happenstance. Displacement occurs because of intent. Misplaced passion is passion lost. Displaced passion is passion discarded.

If you dread getting up in the mornings to go to the job, you probably have lost your drive. You’ve (most likely) misplaced the passion you once had to work into the wee hours of the morning and/or sacrifice lunches to meet with your manager. You’ve looked all around and don’t know where to find it but you’re willing to go through the motions of the job until you do. You still have a modicum of hope.

If you find yourself uncreative and unproductive while on the job, then your passion has been displaced. Subconsciously, you’ve intentionally relocated all the enthusiasm and pride you once held about your position and your work to a place that is hard to reach or difficult to reignite. You’ve completely checked out. You resent your job, manager, co-workers, cafeteria worker – everyone. There is NO hope.

If similar scenarios are what’s causing you to lose sleep, you are not alone. To exist without passion is to live monochromatically. It is to pass through life rather than experience it. So, what does it take to reignite the flames of passion? A paradigm shift.

Dr. Thomas Kuhn, an American scholar who wrote extensively on the history of science and developed several important notions in the sociology and philosophy of science, defined the concept of “paradigm shift” as a “series of peaceful interludes punctuated by intellectually violent revolutions”, and in those revolutions “one conceptual world view is replaced by another”. In other words, a paradigm shift is a ” revolutionary, transformative and metamorphic but sudden shift from one way of thinking to another” that has been “driven by change” rather than chance.

Whereas misplaced and displaced passion caused a gradual shift in you towards one direction, a paradigm shift – a radical new way of thinking – will rapidly move you in another more positive, productive, direction resulting in renewed passion, purpose and pride.

To evolve your mindset and reboot your passion, check out these resources on motivation and reinvention.

• “The Art of Re-Invention” by Debra Dixon
• “How to Tap into What Really Motivates You” by Daniel H. Pink
• “Two Questions” by Daniel H. Pink
• “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams” by Randy Pausch
• “Ten Steps to Personal Reinvention” by Dr. Nancy Irwin
• The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything by Sir Ken Robinson
• Vision Board & Gratitude Journal iPhone Apps by Happy Tapper

FINAL THOUGHT

Don’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. ~ Howard Thurman