Designing a Passionate Life

Setting Your 2010 Intention and Theme

Designing a passionate life includes setting an intention and theme for the year. An intention is some form that you can see at the end of the year, or the what. For example, I write a book by the end of 2010; or I find a job that is aligned with my passion and I am surrounded by the people that make it fun and fulfilling; or I am debt free and have $15,000 in savings. The idea behind an intention is to be very clear about what it is you intend to create. After you write your intention, always keep it in a place where you can see it. This enables you to keep focused on that end result. The end result will manifest the method on how to get there.

When you are deciding on your intention, let your mind come up with ideas and then check in with your heart to see if it resonates or not. Is your intention aligned with your passions? How does the intention feel? Do you get excited when you think about it? Does it inspire you? Let it sink in and right now, don't worry about how you are going to get there. Make sure your intention is in synch with your heart.

You also want to set a theme for the year. A theme is the 'how' for the year. It is like background music that is always playing. What do you want playing in the background of your life? The theme is how you want to experience the year and as a result how you want to feel at the end of the year. It's about the journey itself, not the destination. By selecting a theme for the year, you can move towards your intention in a way that feels good to you. It doesn't have to be hard, tough, a lot of work, or draining. Examples of themes may include: I step into my power with Grace, Ease, and Joy; I experience life with ease; I have plenty of time to do everything; or I make connections that enhance my life. Decide on the 'how' for your year.

As you go through the year, keep your attention on your theme and intention. Write them out and post them where you will see them everyday. Setting your intention creates clarity and you will see the opportunities and possibilities because you are clear and you have your attention on your intention.  You will see the steps to take to manifest your intention. Begin the process now and take action when you are inspired.

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Nurturing Yourself during the Holidays

Designing a passionate life includes many the different holiday seasons and all of the activities that surround them. It's very easy to get caught up in the seemingly endless list of activities to participate in, errands to run, and people to acknowledge during this holiday season. It's very easy to get caught up in the doingness, get stressed, and loose sight of what the meaning of the holidays are for you.

You may find yourself drained of energy, feeling stressed out by all of the things to do, and occasionally experience dread rather than joy at the holiday season. When you are planning all of your activities make sure to include time in your schedule for yourself. You have to reenergize yourself or your will not have any energy to give to the events and people in your life that you love. Take a look at some of the time-out ideas below and pick one or two that feel right to you or come up with your own ideas. Most importantly, make time to recharge yourself.

Time-out Ideas

1. Read your favorite book
2. Exercise
3. Meditate
4. Practice your spirituality
5. Spend time in nature
6. Get plenty of sleep
7. Watch inspiring movies
8. Listen to people who inspire you
9. Eat foods that nourish you
10. Participate in your favorite creative activity
11. Breathe deeply
12. Schedule time for yourself on your calendar

All of these practices can help you reduce your level of stress and increase your level of joy and fulfillment for the holiday season. Enjoy the holidays with less stress. Take care of yourself.

Living Your Full Potential

Designing a passionate life includes discovering and living your potential. I'm sure you've heard this before but I want to focus on this from an internal point of view. Many times when this topic is discussed it is measured by the external accomplishments of people. I think this is important but it's not the only measure of living your full potential.

How do You Use Your Time?

Designing a passionate life and creating life balance includes effective use of your time. You only have so much time to work with in a day. You and I both know this to be true, but how often have you really looked at your day and how you spend your time? You use time to live passionately with your family and friends, to earn a living at what you love, to be of service to others, and the list goes on and on. You have so many choices on how to spend your time that it becomes a balancing act to spend your time wisely.

How to Determine What Actions to Take

Designing a passionate life and creating life balance requires that you take action. You must be clear about your destination, visualize that destination, and then take action. It isn't going to happen without any form of action. It's really easy to take action and then find out later on that you are no closer to your destination than you were before. Action for the sake of action is not what you are after. You must take the most effective actions that move you closer to your destination.

Staying on the Most Direct Route

Designing a passionate life and creating life balance is a journey and like any journey is much faster if you go in a straight line from point A to point B. I'm sure that you have experienced that life doesn't always work that way. The route to destination

What You Can Learn From People Who Bug You

Designing a passionate life and creating life balance for work and family means that life is going to present you with people who "bug" you. It is a natural part of life and there seems to be a never ending supply of these people. They show up on the highways, in the news, in the work place, where you go to church, your neighborhood, your friends, your spouse, and your family members. Let's face it, if you are going to interact with people, you will run into people who "bug" you.

Overcoming Procrastination

Designing a passionate life will more than likely include times when you will procrastinate. So why do you procrastinate? Procrastination is a symptom of something bigger going on, which is that you are blocked by some unconscious loyalty to someone, belief, or thought that you believe is true. Because it is unconscious it is sometimes difficult to identify but not impossible.

What Does Family Mean to You?

Designing a passionate life includes your relationship with your family and being of service. I just watched an episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and is the case whenever I watch that show it touches me deeply. It really puts my life into perspective and I stop and list what I am grateful for. This particular episode was about a single father, age 54 raising five boys ranging in age from 14-19. Their mother left them 14 years ago and their father has raised them alone. They live in Camden, New Jersey, which is one of the poorest cities in the United States.

The family was living in the poorest of conditions and just putting food on the table was a struggle. What I noticed as I watched this family is the deep connection between the boys and their father. The complete appreciation, respect, and love they visibly showed for their father. Emotions were raw and openly expressed. The boys openly expressed love for their father and each other and acknowledged that family meant everything to them and kept them focused and on track. It was clear that by binding together they are a force that will succeed.

The neighborhood is riddled with drugs and poverty. What I saw was a father who was passionate about his family and who loved his boys above all else. I saw a man who let his boys know they were loved and helped keep his family focused on what they had, not on what they didn't have. Because of that love, his boys stay out of trouble and all of them want to have productive lives. Considering the environment in which they live, I believe that this is a powerful demonstration for the power of love.

What impressed me the most was that the father started a support group for other single fathers in the neighborhood. I find it an inspiration that this man who struggles to put food on the table for his family, has the energy and the passion to help others who are going through the same problems. I was humbled by his determination, outward expression of love, hope, and passion. He also demonstrated to me that no matter what you have or don't have, you always have something to give to others. You can always find a way to be of service.

I was once again reminded about the power of love and that no matter what your circumstances; you have something to give back. This family was also demonstrated that matter what the challenge, take each moment as it comes, stay focused on your passions and move forward one step at a time.

What does your family mean to you? How do you show your appreciation for each other? How do you give back to your community? Where do your passions come into play in family and community?

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Find a Mentor and Coach to Assist You

Designing a passionate life can be much easier when you find a mentor to assist you. No matter what your passion is, finding a mentor to help you move forward can move you towards living your passions much faster and easier. When you are clear about what you want to focus your attention on, then I would suggest that you find a coach and a mentor.

I see these roles very differently. A coach can assist you in working through your blocks and your fears and also holds you accountable and gives you techniques to keep moving forward. A mentor is someone who is an expert in the area in which you want to focus.

A mentor knows the ins and outs of your passion and knows the exact action steps to take to get you to where you want to go. For example, if you want to advance your career in the corporate world in a specific field, you want to find a mentor who has been very successful at this and can help you identify the next action steps for you to take. If your passion is to lead a volunteer committee in your community, find a mentor who knows how to do this. If you want to start a business online, find a mentor who knows how to do this.

The list is endless. There is always someone out there who can help you to identify the exact action steps you need to move you towards living your passions. A coach is an integral part of your success as well. A coach partners with you to hold your vision, success, keeps you on track and holds you accountable.

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