What Inspires You?
Author: Barbra White, MBA, Personal and Business Coach

Many of the people who hire me as their personal coach have decided they want to find more passion in what they do each day. They're no longer willing to settle for less than a totally fulfilling life, and they want this life now…in the present...rather than waiting for some future date, or for retirement. I love when I hear this kind of conviction in someone’s voice. It tells me they're ready to make some really great choices for themselves.

Without a doubt, pursuing our passion is essential to our happiness…and our success.

Passion points to what truly inspires us. It stirs our deepest values and desires. Think of how your energy soars when you're doing something you love to do. You become more alive and engaged, and time melts away. When we bring this level of passion into our work, our relationships, and our whole lives, we feel happy, joyful, and fully connected to what we do each day.

The excitement, energy, and initiative passion brings is EXACTLY what we need to accomplish our biggest goals and dreams. If you've been plodding along in your life at half throttle, see what tapping into your passion does for you. It's like opening the floodgates. I'm continually in awe of the drive and determination that arises as soon as a client focuses on a goal that's aligned with their passion.

So, what stops us from finding and pursuing our passion?

Unfortunately, many of us have neglected or forgotten our passion by making choices in life based on what's safe, easy, or status quo. We take a job because it pays well or the title sounds important, not because it is really what we want or are excited about. We spend what little free time we give ourselves watching TV or doing other meaningless tasks instead of actively pursuing something that really moves us.

The result? We end up feeling stifled, bored, frustrated, and drained by what we do each day. Our lives get "oomph-impaired."

Take Action:

If you've lost touch with your passions, or never knew them, commit now to uncovering what makes you come alive. If you're no stranger to passion, but would like to "kick it up a notch," all you may need to do is slow down and evaluate what about your life keeps you excited and feeds your energy.

Use the following questions to get started:

1) Your present life: Are you happy with the direction you are going? What about your life right now do you love, or at least enjoy? What do you actively dislike, and what do you merely tolerate? What is your favorite aspect of your work, and why? Which of your unique talents and abilities could you use more fully? Where are you holding back?

2) Your future life: If you could be doing anything in five years, what would it be? Think big…no limitations! What would a typical day look like? Would you be writing a book? Raising thoroughbred horses? What would really thrill you to be able to say you've accomplished, both personally and professionally? And, what would make you feel like you've made a difference?

What do you see in your future life that may provide clues about pursuing your passion? What's one step you could take now--in your present life-- to move you closer to what you really want?

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I'd love to hear from you about what's helping you to find your passion, or what's getting in your way. Send me an e-mail at Barbra@bwcoaching.com








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Barbra White is a Personal and Business Coach who works with professionals and business owners and to create the clarity, strategy, and momentum needed to design the life they really want to be living. Together they focus on the areas that will bring her clients the greatest results, generate more money, and bring them the most joy. Visit her at http://www.bwcoaching.com

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