Your Passion is Your Power

“Ordinary people become extraordinary when they take a stand for a purpose larger than themselves.”

Passion and purpose. Two words that you’ve probably seen a lot in recent years. We’re told that having a purpose gives us direction, ignites us, and inspires us.

The key, evidently, is becoming a part of something greater than ourselves. When we latch on to something bigger and greater than us, we feel excited, empowered. Our spirit feels alive, and we wake up most mornings excited about the day.

Something happens that we can’t explain with mere words. As Lynne Twist says in her book Living a Committed Life, “Ordinary people become extraordinary when they take a stand for a purpose larger than themselves.” This is currently happening with artificial intelligence and Sam Altman. Knowing the power of AI, he feels drawn to help rally in this new era of technology with balanced ethics and integrity. So it’s not just social issues.

It also happened with a friend of mine who experienced a traumatic childhood, turning the trauma into a non-profit helping teens. I write about it here. From Pain to Purpose.

It was like an epiphany! OH…I get it now! Sylvia thought. That’s what the doctor meant all those years ago. And, the cashier… with all that talk about non-profits. It all came together and into focus.

For the first time in her life, Sylvia felt a spark deep down, igniting and bursting with passion, energy, and love. She began to understand what Purpose meant — and what her purpose was.

She realized she had to help kids like her. Kids living in abusive homes, kids who lack direction, lack basic needs like food and clothing, kids who are sex-trafficked and are homeless and/or couch-surfing. And Sylvia knew that her past would enable her to connect with kids better than most typical well-meaning adults.

Think about your current work and/or life situation. We all have things we don’t want to do — but have to. Then, things we love to do — but don’t necessarily have the time to do.

Do you have a passion? Are you passionate about something, some issue, some hobby?

Sometimes, we’re so overwhelmed with life we can’t come up for air long enough to answer that question. Other times, we may feel like we’re stuck, much like a log in a river that gets lodged on the side of the river bank between a rock and a hard place, as the saying goes.

My guess, however, is that we all have something we’re passionate about. We may not be able to tap into it at this moment — but it’s there.

Personally, I’m at a moment in time where I desperately want to find my passion and allow it to be my purpose for the remainder of my life. Apparently, though, I’m one of those lodged and stuck on the side of the river bank. And that’s ok.

For those of you who are attempting to find your passion and purpose like I am. Come join me. Let’s do this together.

The main purpose of this essay is simply to plant a seed in the back of our minds so that it germinates over time.

Take a minute to think about it. Allow it to develop, take form and unfold.

And remember, “Ordinary people become extraordinary when they take a stand for a purpose larger than themselves.”