…So I keep writing about balance and self-care and how it creates a healthy lifestyle.  And it does.  But yesterday I had another observation.  Something else that comes into play.  Passion…

…Yesterday I got to do many of the things I like to do and want to do.  I was able to work from home; which meant I was able to be with my dogs all day and work in my comfortable clothing while avoiding commuting with stressful people on the road.  I was able to ride my bike and walk my dogs.  I was able to do some strength training with a friend at the gym and then get a good stretch in.  I was able to cook a healthy dinner and eat well all day.  And I was able to spend some quality time with Drew and the dogs; feeding my relationships.  I was also able to work on things for my business and got a lot done; feeding my career.  But I went to bed still feeling oddly “off.”  I wasn’t sure if it was a sadness, a general malaise, or just a feeling of boredom.  I have had some really productive days at work this week with some great meetings and the home visits I shared on a previous post this week.  And then it hit me.  I did not do what I am passionate about…

…I believe that another aspect of balance, well-being, and health is doing what you are passionate about as much as you can; nearly each and every day if you are lucky.  For me, after my reflection on this last night, I have to believe that my passion is watching people “get it.”  I love to guide another to learning.  I love to show another a better way to do things.  I love being an advocate and being a resource for another person.  When I worked at the wellness center running the exercise program I had the chance to show and demonstrate to people what a healthy lifestyle could look like.  When I go on the home visits with the patients and discuss their medication routine with them I get to guide them to a better way of being healthy.  When I am coaching my clients I get to brighten their path through asking questions that brings on their own revelations.  I really love helping people.  I mean I have been a nurse for over six years now, but I did not realize it in this way until now…

…But for me at least it is more than telling people what to do or showing them things.  I like to partner with them to be there while they are figuring it out.  I like to help make it easier for another person to get it.  I like guiding people to the right choices for them.  And maybe all of these things play in to why I want to be a coach and have my own company.  Because I want to get to do this each and every day.  My passion makes my day meaningful.   My passion makes it fun.  It does not feel like work and each day I get joy, satisfaction, and peace of mind from helping another.  So maybe that is why last night, although I did many things for me and my self-care to create balance, I still felt a bit “off.”  And I could not put my finger on it, but these words I have just shared are my answers to how I was feeling.  I’d like to share 7 Suggestions for Figuring Out Your Passion:

• Ask yourself what do you like to do most of the time
• Observe what you are good at
• Figure out what activities you do where you lose track of time and do not realize how much of your day you spent doing them
• Reflect on what does not feel like “work” for you
• Touch base each day at the end of your day to check in with how you are feeling inside
• Journal on the things you accomplished each day and how they made you feel
• Realize what your strengths are (Check out this website: http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/default.aspx and set up a free username.  Then you can take the VIA Survey of Character Strengths to find out what your 24 signature strengths are).

What are you passionate about?  What do you find yourself doing each day that loses your track of time?  Where is your focus?  What makes life meaningful?  I would love to hear from some others on what they have found their passions to be!

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