You know, I started this blog as part of a challenge. It was a super fun exercise. And now that it’s completed, I find that I have to really work to keep the momentum of it going. I have to remember, day in and day out, what I’m doing, and why I’m doing it. And if I lose sight of it, or don’t feel it, I’ve signed up to tons of e-mails from inspirational blogs and sites that help boost me back to the passionate place where I mean to stay.
In reading something from Scott Dinsmore’s Live Your Legend blog, I am reminded that this journey that I have taken up is an exciting one, but it is one that will require lots of hard work. It will be interesting to figure out how to balance the hard work with remembering why I’m doing it in the first place. To remember to enjoy the process.
Following your passion takes courage
It’s easy to go through the motions of your life:
Get up, do the morning routine, go to work, do the evening routine, get to Friday.
Weekend, try to get as many household-related things done as possible.
Start the whole process again on Monday.
It takes courage to say “No! I won’t do it anymore!”. It takes courage to decide to do something different; to make a different choice. It takes courage to choose to do something that makes (or will make) you happy.
The strength to keep going
Once you’ve made the choice, it takes a hell of a lot of determination, and perseverance, to follow through. When it comes to making a major life decision like losing weight or getting healthy, making a career change, or starting a business, it usually doesn’t yield instant results. Sure, you feel good making the choice, but soon, maybe a few days, maybe a few weeks later, you get an “oh shit” moment.
“Oh shit! I really did this! I really made the decision and followed through. Now what?” There might even be a moment of second guessing whether you’ve made the right decision.
If that happens, just ask yourself one question:
“Why am I doing this?”
and remember the passion that fuelled it. Remember what it is you’re passionate about; dwell on it, and feel how good it feels to remember.
Oh and another thing; you don’t have to know what you’re doing. In fact, that’s where so many people end up quitting before they even start. They think “How can I do this when I don’t even know what I’m doing? I don’t know how I’m going to get there.”
You have to take a leap of faith, every single day, and believe that you’ll figure it out along the way.
Success doesn’t come from luck
What’s the difference between those who succeed and those who don’t?
Guts.
The guts to take the first step. The guts to keep going when it gets tough. The guts to ask for help when you need it. The guts to keep moving forward when you’re terrified to fail, or when you’re not seeing any results yet.
This is where Scott’s 3rd piece of his Passionate Work Framework comes into play. Surrounding yourself with passionate people.
Because no one can do anything major on their own. There are all kinds of research and statistics out there that explain that the best way to succeed at any endeavour is to have a support group, a community, or at the very least one other person who will be in your corner on your journey. But you need to have the courage to be vulnerable to the people in your support system, to tell them when you’re struggling, when you’re lacking the energy to move forward on that particular day. Because it’s ok to have days when you feel like you’re struggling. It’s also ok to take a day off to give yourself a break. But if you choose to surround yourself with people who support you and your goal, then you can use them to inspire you to keep going. Even if it’s having a cup of coffee or a beer with a friend, to talk about what you’re doing, or how you’re doing, often times it’s through that conversation that you remember WHY you’re doing it. Let them become a resource for you; a fountain of ideas and motivation when you hit a wall.
Positive thoughts only, please
One thing you should do, though, is when you choose these people to be there with you and for you on your journey, make sure you have a conversation with them at the very beginning, so that they understand that no matter what you come to them for, you are not there to vent.
I don’t care what anyone says, venting is bad.
Venting perpetuates the negative energy behind the series of thoughts and words that you are putting out. Venting takes something that feels bad, and amplifies it for as long as you are talking about it. Venting means that instead of looking for a solution to a problem, you’re just focusing on the problem and explaining, over and over again, in a hundred different ways, why you’re not liking this problem. Is that going to lead you to a solution? No. So don’t do it.
Venting bad. Got it? Good.
It’s ok to acknowledge a problem or situation that you are having difficulty with, but don’t spend too much time explaining it. Redirect your focus instead on finding your way back on track, towards your goal. And you need to make sure that the people in your support system do the same.
On your journey towards your major goal, there is no room for pity parties.
Your friends need to know that when you come to them when you are struggling, you need their positive support, their encouragement, their love, and their perspective.
In the end though, to continue down your path, day in and day out, is a choice that only you can make. Your friends and support system can’t do it for you.
Only you can make the decision to show up. Every day.
And believe me, that hard work, that perseverance, that consistent decision to show up, will pay off; 100% guaranteed. When you work hard towards something that you really want, it feels so much more delicious when you do finally get it.
Instant gratification is for sissies (I would have used a different word but this is a family show 😉 )
So how about it? Are you daring enough to go on this journey with me? Leave me a comment below and let me know.
And of course, as always, I am here for you.
– Mel
Avec plaisir et toujours là.