Can your passion or hobby lead to reinvention? It certainly can, and I've heard some great stories lately that I'll continue to share.
You may be searching for your passion, but maybe you're trying too hard. In my journey and as I interview people for my book and new TV show, I hear many struggle with finding their passion.
Reinvention is about having that "aha moment" -- saying to yourself "I want more," "I want something different or new," "I deserve to be doing something fun and beautiful in my life and I'm going to re-prioritize." Now, what is it?
Finding you passion is a very lofty and ambitious goal and like your reinvention journey, there's a road-map to get there. You can't necessarily wake up one day and "know" what your passion is or should be. It becomes daunting and then you're disillusioned that you haven't got a passion and there must be something wrong with you. Then you stop searching for something wonderful that you can enjoy... a hobby.
So, start with a simple hobby -- no agenda, no long-term plan that this is going to "save your life" or get you out of what you're doing. Just something that complements your day-to-day journey. Cooking, jewelry making, playing an instrument, creating some art, learning a language, flying a kite, knitting, cycling, rock climbing, starting a collection of something... allow yourself an hour or two a week to indulge in it and see how much you can nurture your soul and find interest in something that's yours and special to you. ou'll mingle with like-minded people around something of interest to you all and you never know what might come from that -- but you have to allow it, that's all.
Often, as we get older, priorities shift and we start to let go of those things that are important to us -- we take care of others in our lives and we commit to our jobs and careers, which often aren't related to our hobbies or interests, but are simply a means to an end.
We then justify why we don't have time for the things that make us feel good and settle for a complacent life.
It could be that a simple hobby, something you can have fun with and enjoy, may ultimately become your passion. Then you can figure out if that hobby can transform your life.
You may need to pull your head out of your phone or computer long enough to see what's going on around you. Do you realize how much of the world around you you're missing as you text and email while you walk around? You're probably not always present in your real world environment, surroundings and human interactions as you search, read and engage in your digital microcosm.
It's a bit of a metaphor for the way we live -- buried in the present and not looking up to recognize what the world around us has to offer. Perhaps if we dreamed a little more and recognized that we're entitled to have our hobbies and dreams, our new reality could be just what we want.
I've been interviewing folks for my book and TV show and recently came across a story of a woman who discovered a buried talent as an artist. She didn't even know that she had a talent in her. She wasn't frustrated and didn't even wish she could follow her dream. She didn't even realize that she had a gift, but she stumbled upon it and she allowed herself to recognize that what she was doing was truly art. It took one or two people to validate their enthusiasm for what she was doing, and that just continued to feed her passion that just kept growing. Years later, she's highly regarded in her field, is making a wonderful living and is fulfilling a dream she didn't even know she had.
She was open and receptive to the fact that what was showing up in her life was something that she could nurture. She chose to make something more out of it and allowed it to flourish. This is remarkable.
So do something new, look for a hobby, not a passion and let it take you places unexpected. It's good for the soul. It's your Reinvention.
Enjoy and #HappyReinventing
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