Bye-bye Passion

“Bye-bye, Miss American pie.
Drove my Chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
And them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye”
Singing, this’ll be the day my passion dies
This’ll be the day that my passion dies

I changed the lyrics a bit there, but it is so true! So many are letting their passion die! They are staying trapped in the box, playing by rules that corporations and the world say you have to play by. Play it safe, don’t take risk, color inside the lines, and taking a leap of faith is not right for you! Just do as you’re told! We know what’s best for you!

Like puppets on a string, many of us play along. We stay in our cubicles, trade time for money, punch the clock in and out, go home and watch TV to dull the pain, then wake and repeat. Why do so many stay in dead end jobs for so long?

I was that way for years, but there was something missing…How did I become a wage monkey? How did I let this happen? Why am I not being paid for my performance? Why doesn’t anyone let me make the decisions? My corporate mentaility was killing my passion. All these ideas were trapped in my head, but the companies I worked for were set in their ways and not open to my fresh ideas. Oh no that won’t work, we don’t do it that way here, just follow the rules, don’t offend anybody, make sure everyone likes you, and you won’t get hurt. I did get hurt! You killed my creativity! You just killed a part of me!

Then it all changed! No more Mr. Nice guy! No more Mr. Corporate politics guys. I needed to go into business for myself. I started speaking what was on my mind and living out my passion and found new opportunities kept popping up. Was it coincidence? I believe everything happens for a reason. You control your destiny while God clears the path! We can either sit back and watch life pass you by or you can go out and make life happen! The choice is yours!

So…Where is Your Passion?
Why do so many people have trouble finding their pas­sion? Often it is so far beneath the surface that it is out of sight and out of mind. If you have a relationship with Jesus, are you passionate about Him? Money tends to be the primary motivating factor for many as they choose a profession, but most would not identify money as their true passion.

In his book Marketplace Christianity, Robert E. Fra­sier says:

For people who are passionate for Jesus, there are dozens of well-trod paths into ministry but few into the marketplace. Have you ever heard someone say, “I’m so passionate for Jesus; I just have to go into business”? Why don’t we hear that? Because, without ever saying so, most Christians believe that a marketplace vocation and passion for Jesus are mutually exclusive. This is one of the great tragedies of modern Christianity, and it has robbed millions of people of their passion and purpose, and robbed the Son of God of His inheritance in us.

God has instilled a passion within you. He has pro­grammed within you a desire to participate in activities that are natural, rewarding, and fulfilling. Some find these early on. Others never truly discover their passion. Almost every successful person I have met found a way to consistently tap into his or her passion. Once they found a way, they also discovered how to earn a living through it.

If you discover what your interests and passions are, you will always be far more successful than if you just go through the motions. Take some time to search yourself and determine what really makes you tick.

Want to hang with others looking to live out their passion?

Check out 48days.net.  This site is a great place to conjugate. Dan Miller is such a great example of creative thinking for increased personal and business success. He believes the most effective life plans are achieved by integrating natural gifts, unique personality traits, and one’s own values and passions.

If you haven’t read No More Mondays , Dan writes, “I believe every one of us has a unique calling. It’s certainly not something re­served for a chosen few who end up as pastors, priests, or monks. We all fulfill that calling being excellent as we ex­press or talents and abilities, and our dreams and passions. Anyone can do a job, but a calling is lived out by a person who has tapped into wisdom that goes beyond education and intelligence.” Dan is active in helping individuals redirect careers, eval­uate new income sources, and achieve balanced living. He believes a clear sense of direction can help us become all that God designed us to be.

The question for you is. “Are you letting your passion die?”