The P Word

If you're British, and I am, then chances are you're uncomfortable with the p word. Passion. We don't talk about our passions much, do we? What we're passionate about, what blows our hair back and floats our boat... well, it's all slightly embarrassing. At most someone might say "Yeah, I really love doing this or that". But if someone starts talking about their "passion", chances are they'll be given a slightly wary look and a much wider berth from that point on. Step back from the crazy person. Passion we leave to our high-fiving American friends, or the Italians... they're much better at it than we are.

But passion, what we're passionate about, what drives us, is an important part of who we are. If we're talking about life being a journey - and it seems everyone is talking about their "journey" these days - then passion pretty much is the vehicle you're driving, the compass you're navigating with, the route map and the road. And it's certainly the fuel in your engine.

And at 0 pence per litre, you can go a long way without breaking the bank.

Some clients come to me knowing exactly what they want to talk about. They have a clear goal and generally need someone to help them create a strategy to achieve that goal. Others don't have a clear goal, just a sense (vague or otherwise) that life doesn't quite fit the way they want it to. Like a badly-fitting suit, it's tight in all the wrong places, the fabric is itchy and makes them look frumpy. And the colour's all wrong.

"Passion is the fuel in your

engine. And at 0 pence per

litre, you can go a long way

without breaking the bank"

Whenever I coach a client who doesn't have a clear idea of what they want, just a very clear idea of what they don't want, one of the first things I do is try to connect them to what they feel passionate about. Some people have a real fear of not knowing where they're going, or even where they want to go. There's a sense that we should know what we want to do with our lives, we should have goals and visions and plans. But the beauty in not knowing is that you have a whole blank page upon which to create something. And it can be anything. Without a fixed goal, anything is possible. You are free to let your passions guide you.

So what are you passionate about and what are you going to do about it?

Passions don't have to be some big deal. Not everyone wants to be a novelist or actor or become the next big entrepreneur. One of my friends, a former professional singer, hasn't sung in public for 20 years. One day she woke up and realised how much she missed it. So she joined a local choir and that's all she needs to get that same little buzz from doing something she really really loves.

So... take a pen and paper. Make a list.

*what would you do with your day for pure enjoyment's sake if you didn't have to work, didn't have any responsibilities and had limitless resources (money, technology, space, time). List as many things as possible.

* which of the things you listed could potentially a) provide a source of income; b) improve your life in material, emotional and physical ways? Cross out any of the items on your list that don't fit the above criteria (so out goes the 24-hour tv session and gorging on chocolate all day - sorry!)

* Of the remaining items on your list - which one really really excites you?

* How could you get more of it into your life?

* What steps are you going to commit to, in order to get more of it into your life?

* What is the first step?

* Take that first step.

Have a great week,

Dawn

PS: I've just dug out an old 70s song by Harry Nilssen for my kids to have a listen. It's called Blanket for a Sail. It's about a tiny little boat, faith is keeping it afloat and it's got a tiny little skipper with a worn and tattered coat:

"The laws of the ocean, say that you should never fail.

Just use your heart as a rudder, faith as a compass and a blanket for a sail"