Passion is an incredible motivator.
Passion will drive you to do things you never thought possible. It will sustain you when you've yet to reach your goals. It will give you power to produce results.
If I ask the average man on the street what they are passionate about, I usually get one of three responses.
1 - I don't know. (Many people have never stopped to ask themselves what they are passionate about.)
2 - I'm passionate about lots of things...followed by a litany of seemingly random possibilities. (We are often indiscriminate in our passions, saying we love chocolate with the same measure of enthusiasm as we like our latest Netflix series or sometimes even our spouse.)
3 - I'm passionate about what I do. (We tend to focus on what we do more than why we like to do it.)
What we casually identify as passion is often just an indicator of a root motivation we've yet to identify.
If you give me a list of things you like, then I want to know why you like those things. If you tell me you are passionate about kids or dogs or Jesus, then I want to know why those things produce such enthusiasm in you.
When you connect your activities and experiences with a good review of the things in life you get really excited about...you begin to discover things about yourself you never knew. Bravely digging around in the deeply rooted places of your heart will launch you on a journey of self-discovery that can change everything. Finding the soul cravings of your heart and being able to state them with confidence will propel you into places of power and impact you've barely even begun to embrace.
I've recently been connected with a whole new community of enthusiastic writers who are stirring up my love for writing. I've played around with writing long enough to know that it requires an extraordinary motivation to persevere. I find writing both deeply satisfying and sometimes deeply painful. I long to do it effectively but I'm cautious about the cost. I am wondering if I am passionate enough about it to pay the price.
So I am asking myself why do I want to write.
I could say things like I enjoy sharing my thoughts or it's an interesting way to express myself or this is a great way to talk to myself (because sometimes no one else is reading)...but I need to dig a little deeper.
I believe writing is simply a symptom - one way of many - for me to act upon the deeper desire of my heart...to communicate truth with authenticity, vulnerability and power.
There it is - a passion.
This passion is so deeply rooted that it motivates me.
It drives me to do things I never thought possible.
It sustains me when I have yet to reach my goals.
It gives me power to produce.
So I'm writing...and talking, and studying and praying and thinking about truth. And as I go everything changes.
Are you lacking the motivation you need to accomplish something you've said you are passionate about?
I am challenging you to dig a little deeper too.
I dare you to explore the hidden regions of your own heart. Go ahead and honor how God has crafted you. Embrace your gifts, strengths, interest and experiences. Dig down deep and discover an underlying passion. Then write it down so you can remind yourself. Use it to say yes to some things and no to others. Allow it to take deep root and manifest in every area of your life.
Then buckle up for the journey.
It can change everything when you dig a little deeper.