| Doing what we really love is absolutely necessary | | | | "to honor the life of (insert your name here)." |
| if we want to be fully happy and live our highest | | | | You realize that you are seeing a fore-glimpse of |
| potential. Parker Palmer, in his book Let Your Life | | | | your own funeral. |
| Speak said, "Before I can tell my life what I want | | | | "It is only fitting," the priest continues, "that those |
| to do with it, I must listen to my life telling me | | | | who loved (insert your name here) most should |
| who I am." Have you spent much time lately in | | | | share their thoughts and memories. Who would |
| introspection, listening to that wee voice in your | | | | like to go first?" You see your life partner of |
| head, but coming from your heart, telling you | | | | many years stand up to speak. You see that |
| where your passion is? ("I wish I had more time | | | | (s)he is teary-eyed, but smiling, as (s)he recalls |
| to paint." "I've always wanted to travel to Africa." | | | | some of his/her happiest memories of you. |
| "Wouldn't it be great to buy an old jalopy and fix | | | | What does (s)he say about your relationship and |
| 'er up?!" "I need to rekindle the romance in my | | | | the kind of partner you were? What do your |
| relationship." "I want to take my company to a | | | | children say about the kind of father or mother |
| million in turnover.") | | | | you've been? What do your co-workers and |
| Leo Babauta states that your passion "will be the | | | | business colleagues say about your work ethics? |
| thing that will motivate you to get out of bed in | | | | What do your friends say about the type of |
| the morning, to cry out, 'I'm alive! I'm feeling this, | | | | friend you've been to them? And finally, what do |
| baby!' and to scare your family members or | | | | the local charities say about you? |
| anyone else who happens to be in yelling distance | | | | Is it a eulogy you are proud to hear? Is it one |
| as you do this." | | | | that could be better? Incidentally, if attending your |
| Think about what that small voice inside your | | | | own funeral is a bit too morbid, you can always |
| head is telling you. Do you have a passion deep | | | | imagine that you are attending your own 100th |
| inside you that has lain buried and ignored for | | | | birthday party and that everyone is there to help |
| years? A martial arts enthusiast asked Bruce Lee | | | | you celebrate. Their speeches and memories are |
| to teach him everything he knew about martial | | | | to honor your life's work. Do you like what you |
| arts. Bruce held up two cups, both filled with liquid. | | | | hear? Take some time right now to vividly |
| "The first cup," said Bruce, "represents all of your | | | | imagine one scenario or the other. |
| knowledge about martial arts. The second cup | | | | As Stephen Covey says, "Begin with the end in |
| represents all of my knowledge about martial arts. | | | | mind." Get a clear picture in your head of how |
| If you want to fill your cup with my knowledge, | | | | you would like your eulogy (or honorary |
| you must first empty your cup of your | | | | speeches) to sound. Take a moment now to |
| knowledge." If you want to discover your true | | | | actually write that out on paper. |
| passions in life, you must first empty your mind | | | | If, after asking yourself many questions and |
| of any pre-conceived notions. | | | | listening to your soul's reply, you are still not able |
| Stephen R. Covey said that one should always | | | | to find your life's passion, then it is time to break |
| "begin with the end in mind". So with that purpose, | | | | out of the mold. Perhaps the reason you haven't |
| I'll share with you an idea he suggests. Imagine | | | | found your passion is because you've not |
| you are attending a funeral. As you enter the | | | | discovered it yet. Enroll in a class, attend a lecture |
| church, you take a seat at the back and look | | | | or poetry reading, take up a new hobby or sport. |
| around. You see some people that are familiar to | | | | Anything that will take you outside of your usual |
| you. A priest enters the front of the church and | | | | comfort zone will help you discover new likes and |
| stands at the pulpit. | | | | dislikes, helping bring greater clarity. Maybe it's |
| "We are gathered here today," the priest says, | | | | time to think outside the box! |