Passion.
What sparks it, sustains it, creates it?
Something about moving to a new place heightens all the senses.
Awakens and stirs the passions, delves the hidden reaches of the soul.
Of course, we don't all have to create a dramatic move to come into contact with our deep desires and passions.
I've been diving deep into practices to guide awakening our own inner wisdom. The wisdom of passion. Reading lots of experts. Feeling. Finding out.
First of all, passion is different than excitement. Passion is lasting.
It's often more than a passing fancy.
Passion makes us want to talk about it, experience it all day long, all the time.
We can formulize it.
(curiosity + engagement) x time = passion
But basically, with passion, it's best to just feel it.
Experts encourage us to follow it. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, of "flow" fame says in his book Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention:
"When something strikes a spark of interest, follow it."
Passion-seeking is all about following what feels right. Cooking a delightful meal, dancing, painting, gardening, writing poetry. Doing what feels good.
Passion grows in
Leaps of heart
The body wants to try
Each risk taken in gasps
Of breath held in.
Fear rising,
Currents of curiosity
Turn to wonder.
Deeper trust in self
Grows satisfaction
As desire exhales with joy.
Passion is a choice.
Another passion expert, Cal Newport, really encourages creating our passions. He says, "There is no special passion waiting for you to discover. Passion is something that is cultivated."
The tasks of cultivating passion include allowing for emotional and sensual movement in our life, opening to pleasure, and "going with the flow."
Passion is connected intimately with sensuality, sexuality, emotions, intimacy, and desire.
Water flows, moves, and changes, and a healthy relationship to passion allows us to do so too.
Trying to force and control the outer world is not the province of passion.
Instead of demanding that our body, the world, or a relationship be different, passion encourages us to feel the feelings that arise as we open to life just as it is.
As we allow ourselves to accept what is, we taste the sweetness (and bittersweetness) of life.
How about it? Have you allowed yourself to cultivate a passion? What was it?
When we make the choice to cultivate passion we get to feel it in our body and emotions.
There are many ways to cultivate passion. Here are a few.
1. Create a passion-zone.
This is simply space to play. It could be filled with books, trees, sensuous food and drink. It could be as empty as a zen meditation corner. Passion zones are unique and personal. Think about what lights you up, turns you on.
2. What to do if you are in a passion rut.
If you really have no clue, you just don't know, simply let go. Get soft and curious.
Getting open without expectation. Try new things. Eventually, it'll discover you.
If you know, why wait? Dive in!
3. Let the body talk, tingle, zing and sing.
Do what feels good and then notice how passion feels in body. Be super specific.
Tingles chills, zings. I always feel this when I'm doing what I love.
Hair stands up on the nape of my neck and along my arms. I feel so alive as if every cell is drinking the world in. These physical cues are clues to passion I chose to follow.
4. Explore the edge.
Follow the fear when it's healthy fear. Maybe we are a little bit afraid of who we will become if we follow what is lighting us up. That is ok. It's great to let your self explore edges as long as they are healthy. And only we know that for ourselves.
5. Feel hyper-real.
When we follow our passions it's a falling in love for first time kind of feeling.
Perhaps a little unstable and unreal. Everything technicolor and heightened. 4D. These are signs. These 4D states are actually a portal to another reality. The reality of living in the flow of passion that comes from doing what we love.
And most of all, enjoy cultivating our passions.
A truly holistic life is based on passionate experience. This type of life leads to integration, insight and power.
Remember your own true answers and deepen into the inner livability of your passion. Your own passionate inner wisdom gives so much to the world as you explore, cultivate and create more.
With so much passionate care,
Susanna Barkataki
I teach the "feel your passion" transformative kind of Yoga School and VIP Visionary Business Net-Workshops in LA, Orlando, Fl. and throughout the U.S.
Yoga School starts Oct 5th. Learn more here!
The next V-School event is Oct. 7th. Apply for your award for a visionary business or a visionary idea here!
I'd love to hear what's sparking passion for you right now!
Connect:
Email: susanna@healthyhotgoddess.com
Web: www.healthyhotgoddess.com