More Keys to Finding Your Passion At Work

'If there is no passion in your life, then have you really lived?

Find your passion, whatever it may be.

Become it, and let it become you and you will find great things

happen FOR you, TO you and BECAUSE of you.'

~ T. Alan Armstrong

Benefits of passionate work

This is the second installment of a 2-part series about passion at work. See, Keys to Finding Your Passionate At Work. Finding your passion at work is the key to ensure lifelong happiness, contentment and good health. When you love what you do, you have a tennedcy to be less concerned with how much money you have in the bank. You can look forward to each day that comes with zest and excitement. You feel your work and everything else in life is full of adventure, opportunities and satisfaction. You are at your best health, you sleep well and you feel rejuvenated, invigorated and inspired.

Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky had similar opinions on this effect on a working individual. While he was in prison for expressing dissenting views about the government and authorities, he was moved by the misery of the prisoners who were given the task of transferring a pile of sand all day. He had observed that this group comprised of individuals who had tried to escape through the electrified barbed-wire fence or had attempted suicide. A second group of prisoners, on the other hand, was given the task of building a railroad. They appeared to be much happier and more satisfied with their work. In fact, he had heard them singing while at work.

What matters to you?

To find passion in your work, you must have the freedom to become a better and wiser person than you are at this present moment. And to find the right job, you must be honest with your feelings and thoughts. You must know the things that matter to you and what will really make you happy and content. Take time to incorporate your thoughts and feelings, your sense of individuality, your weaknesses, strengths, the things that annoy you, the things that excite you, the things that you do effortlessly and naturally. Knowing what you want and having the courage to 'go for it' helps your mind and frees you to accomplish your objectives.

You must also make sure that the work you have provides for your needs. Many people quit their jobs because they feel unappreciated, overworked, drained, unchallenged and much more. It is important that you carefully examine your needs, as this ranks high in improtance, just like having the right nutrients in your diet to nourish your body. Fine tuning your personal needs with the rewards of work gives you security and contentment. This will make you more inspired and motivated, and you will do a better job!

Fear

One of my favorite books is, Dune. One of my favorite quote begins, 'Fear is the mind-killer'' Fear is what drives many people to do what they do, but more importantly, it keeps many from from reaching their dreams and goals. For some, fears are born from abuses or mistreatments received in the past by parents, teachers, former employers, co-workers and other people. These fears can often restrict you and keep you from becoming much more happy and passionate about your work. Many people feel empty because they feel guilty about their past. They feel there is slim or no possibility of finding the work they love and so they only give half of their hearts to it.

Love

A work with passion is a work that expresses love. This love is not the romantic kind of love, but the love that is used to express goodwill to others and the community and as a bonus you get paid at the same time. When your work is one that spreads love to others, you feel prouder of yourself and your achievements. To find passion at work, you can reexamine your role and how it contributes to the greater work. Then, remind yourself of those thoughts every now and then.

Letting go

Finding your passionate work means that you must let go of the 'monsters' of your past. When you liberate yourself from the negative thoughts derived from unpleasant experiences of the past, you will become more open to new experiences that will transform you to a more mature individual. You are then well on your way to becoming someone that is willing to accept the responsibility for changing your own life with your own hands and teaming up with positive people to achieve mutually desirable goals.

The most important key to finding your passion at work, and everywhere else is to know yourself, well. When you learn yourself better, you can face up to any challenge that has held you down in the past. This may not be an easy or a simple task, but once you take ownership of what's happening in your life, you can begin to make things happen for your life!

Thoughts?

photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hollyclark/1391014192/sizes/z/in/photostream/