What are you Passionate about?

Written by: Karen Wallace
April 1, 2008

Welcome to our April edition. It’s hard to believe Easter is over for another year, isn’t it? We had a lovely long weekend, filled with family birthdays and lots of gardening. In April there are a few less family birthdays than there were in March - but since one of them is my youngest son turning 10 I’m guessing we’re still in for a busy month (especially when you add in school holidays).

Here at The Calm Space, we’re all passionate about what we do. I can even say we’re all passionate women - since we are yet to welcome our first male contributor to our pages (but will be, in the very near future!)

So it stands to reason that as passionate women, we’ve got a lot of passion to share around. And that is exactly what we’re doing this month. Sharing the passion…

passionflower

We don’t expect you to read our magazine in one sitting. In fact, you’d probably be on overload if you did. The Calm Space is designed for you to dip into, any time you’re in need of a break, some inspiration, or a dose of passion. We’re here all month, and most of our Spaces update at the start of each month. So you’ve plenty of time to come back and read at your leisure, leave a comment and get involved in the conversation. Don’t forget to bookmark, or subscribe by RSS or email, so you can easily pop on over when you have a few minutes.

Grab a cuppa, and enjoy the wonderful, passionate content we have for you this month! We’re so glad you’re here.

Káren x

P.S. This month, we’re inviting all our readers to join us by sharing what you’re passionate about. Check out The Challenge Space for more details - we’d love to have your contribution.

Would you describe yourself as passionate?

Would those who love you?

You may be surprised!

To have passion, to have a dream, to have a purpose in life. And there are three components to that purpose, one is to find out who you really are, to discover God, the second is to serve other human beings, because we are here to do that and the third is to express your unique talents and when you are expressing your unique talents you lose track of time.

~ Deepak Chopra

The Need for Passion

People say that calm, joy and peace are what they get most from this online magazine, and from me. And that is great - because that’s the aim (we didn’t call it The Calm Space for nothing:)

But that calm and peaceful nature doesn’t preclude passion. Far from it.

Passion is what gets me out of bed each morning.

Our passion for life is what gives life its colour. It turns a grey day into a technicolour dreamcoat…

Being passionate about your life, and what you do every day, can make all the difference to your satisfaction, fulfillment and happiness. Let’s look at a few ways passion can help you throw off those covers and start your day well…

What gets you out of bed every day?

Do you jump out of bed, gleeful and eager for what the day has in store for you? Would you like to do that every day?

Whilst a good night’s sleep is obviously a prerequisite, it isn’t only about feeling tired versus refreshed. It’s about how we perceive what is going to happen today.

When you’re passionate about the work you do, about the contribution you make to the lives of others, your need for sleep drops dramatically.

When you’re newly in love, life takes on a wonderful glow and getting up each day is effortless.

When exercise or meditation is the way you start your day - getting out of bed just happens.

When you have a loving relationship with your spouse, children, family and good friends, your life is filled with colour, movement and light.

If where you live is a place you love, it’s that much easier to get up right in the morning.

If you live without fear, and always have something to be thankful for - this certainly helps to toss the doona back and jump out of bed.

Passion is energy. It is what energises us and powers our days. It is necessary fuel for a healthy mind just as good food, clean water and exercise are vital for the health of our body. We think of the heart when we think of being passionate, but it takes our head and heart, our body and soul to drive our passions.

When our lust for life wanes, things lose their lustre - the shine of life pales and all blends to grey. Working is a chore, rather than a pleasure. Time drags.

Being passionate… loving your life!

What turns you on?

Are you one of those lucky people that loves what you do? You cannot wait to get up and get into your ‘work’ each day, because you’re energised and invigorated by what you do? That’s passion.

When I spend time with my girlfriends, I come away brim full of new ideas, motivated to get in and get something done. They fire me up! Do you have friends like that? That’s passion.

When you lose track of time, lost in the pleasure of doing something you love. That’s passion.

Have you watched a young child lately? See how they spring out of bed each morning, eager to learn and grow and experience all the wonders of life (much to our horror at 5am!) - notice how they get out of bed with a smile on their face? That’s passion.

Do you think about the love of your life when you’re not with him? Do you really feel alive every moment you spend together? That’s passion.

Flat Battery?

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could plug ourselves in and recharge our batteries like we recharge our mobile phones?

Or attach a little solar panel to the top of our heads and fill up with fire and passion as we take a walk in the sunshine…

It isn’t quite that easy, but as our innate nature is to be fully charged and springing out of bed just like those little children (definitely not like teenagers), there is hope for us all.

Grab a notebook or open up a new file on your computer. Write a heading that tantalises you. Something like What turns me on, or What gets me out of bed in the morning… or even Passionate Plug-ins (ok, maybe not that last one…) It can be as corny or risky as you like - you’re the only one who is going to see it.

Now, make a list of what recharges you. They can be little, petty things - like having a clean desk. They can be huge, like working to solve world hunger. And there will be all the things in between.

A long, steamy bubble bath. Pruning the rose bushes. Walking along the seashore. Baking a delicious batch of banana and butterscotch muffins. Visiting an art gallery or antique store. Playing Beethoven or Queen or AC/DC - loud. Shopping for new shoes. Learning italian. Playing fetch with the dog. Hiking the Kokoda Trail. A night in with a good book. A night out with the girls. A good movie. Tango. Sailing around the world. Writing glorious words to inspire, heal or amuse. Entertaining good friends. A nice pen and a beautiful notebook. Gratitude. Lust. Fingerpainting. Reading to your children or someone else’s. Love.

Hold onto your list, add to it often.

Use it as a resource when your batteries feel a little low.

Top up regularly and you need never go flat.

What’s keeping your batteries full? Come share with us! This month, we’re sharing our passions, secret or otherwise. What is it that really fires you up? Pop on over to The Challenge Space to find out how you can get involved!

Karen Wallace - encouraging you to find your own calm space | http://www.thecalmspace.com/about#karen

Comments

2 Responses to “What are you Passionate about?”

  1. Joanna YoungNo Gravatar on April 7th, 2008 4:45 am

    Thanks for sharing your wonderful list Karen, and for encouraging me to keep my own (and no, I will not be calling it passionate plug-ins!)

    When I think of the common denominator it’s love. Love for that person, place, or activity. The feeling of love that washes over me when I think about them, or do that thing, or go to that place. It’s the ultimate chemical fix.

    It gets me out of bed in the morning and lets me fall asleep with a smile on my face at night. (And no I’m not talking about lust either!) Just love.

    Joanna

  2. karenNo Gravatar on April 7th, 2008 1:46 pm

    Thank you Joanna. I love that love is what gets you out of bed in the morning. You put it so well - and that image of falling asleep with a smile on your face - that is priceless!

    If we all could fall asleep happy, with a smile on our face and filled with love, imagine what a wonderful world this would be…

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