Keep Your Passion in Your Sights

We’re getting to know ourselves very well, and figuring out what moves us, motivates us and allows us to unleash our passion. This can be fun and exciting, and at times it can also feel like a lot of work!

How do we stay focused, motivated, and relaxed throughout it all?

Whenever we’re doing hard physical, mental or emotional work we need time to recharge, refresh and relax. And it may take time to figure out what is really going to give us energy and not drain us more.

I’ll give you some examples from my own life, as well as things that our Powerful Latina interviewees have suggested. One of my ways to “relax” is watching movies.

Sometimes this can be refreshing and energizing, and at other times the mood created by the movie throws me off my game. The trick is to find activities or actions that fill up the part of your tank you need to refill…

Another example is hanging out with friends. I love spending time with my girls, and yet at times, I just want to sit in the silence and meditate. What it takes to refresh you can vary depending on what is tiring you out, and what you need at the moment.

Sometimes a night out with my girlfriends fits the bill perfectly, and sometimes I need to simply be alone.

Powerful Latina interviewee Maria Rita Jaramillo, Senior Liaison, Community Outreach, Office of Governance and Policy, for the National Education Association (NEA), said she keeps an “atta-girl” scrapbook. So when she needs some motivation or inspiration she looks back at this scrapbook of nice notes she’s been sent, pictures that make her happy, or copies of awards she’s been given. What do YOU have in your house that you could compile to bring you joy and renewal when you need it? Put it in a scrapbook, or compile it in a drawer or shoe box. I have letters my son has written me over the years that never fail to touch me and make me cry (with tears of joy!).

Other interviewees spoke of taking time out to exercise, listen to music, get feedback from friends, or learn a new skill. Find whatever it is that *you* need at various times and then keep that list with you. I also, for example, have put together a CD of positive songs that I can listen to if I need some motivation or inspiration or simply a reminder of why my passion is so important.

Once we’re renewed, we can come back to our passions with vigor! It’s crucial to keep ourselves focused on the truly important things. For me, at least, it can be so easy to slip into the everyday and “forget” to self-reflect, to stay focused on my passions, and to use the tools I have at my disposal to have the best life ever.

In order to keep this focus, each of us needs to find what works for us — what activities, items, and practices can you put in place in your life — to make sure you can also stay focused on what’s important to you!

[If you haven't yet read Friday's article on passions we find outside of our careers, this is another idea of ways we can renew and refresh. Take a look at it here...]