Take the Passion Test Make a list of your passions; the 10 or 15 things most critical to your happiness and well-being. Start each entry with, “When my life is ideal, I am … ” (living in a beautiful house in the mountains, working in a job that changes lives, spending plenty of time with my children, etc.) Don’t worry about how you’ll get there. Just write it down. You become whatever you are committed to. “People often write down a passion, but if they can’t immediately see how they can manifest it, they erase it and instead write something down that they can easily put their arms around. In other words, they play it safe,” says Janet Attwood, co-author of The Passion Test: The Effortless Path to Discovering Your Life Purpose. Instead, think big. Narrow the list to your top five passions. Write all five passions down on five index cards. Post passions in places you will routinely see them, such as on the bathroom mirror and refrigerator door; display them prominently on your computer. Create a vision board (a collage of representations of your passions). “It’s an easy way to keep your attention on the things you really want to grow stronger in your life,” notes Attwood. Use these priority passions as a guidepost. “Whenever you are faced with a choice, a decision or opportunity, choose in favor of your passions,” advises Attwood. Then run to the goal with purpose in every step. Take the test again every six months, because passions can change and evolve over time. 24
ethos. Yet those that specialize next career shift. It has also It is not how in helping people find more led to willing trade-offs much you do, in buying less and doing meaningful lives say this group currently counts among their but how much more for oneself. best and most focused cus According to the 2010 love you put tomers. MetLife Study of the “We are at a time in into the doing, American Dream, 77 perthe world when it is more cent of Americans now that matters. say that achieving their socially acceptable to follow your passions,” says Janet big dream comprises ~ Mother Teresa Attwood, whose Passion Test improving the quality of workshops—established in their lives by strength2004—are welcoming more people than ening personal relationships. As for ever. “In my day, my dad was so freaked millennials, 39 percent say they already out I’d end up homeless that he sent me have what they need. Also, those that to business school so I would learn how feel growing pressure to buy more and to type. Back then, parents never asked: better material possessions has dropped ‘What turns you on?’” from 66 percent in 2006 to well below That’s a shame, remarks Frederick, half today. because first hints at our purpose often “Plenty of people have already bubble up in our youth. “I believe all of started down this path. They’re growing us know at some point what our gift is, vegetables, raising chickens and keeping but we often bury it and say, ‘I have to bees. They’re building their own homes, fit in and get a job with benefits and a often with the help of friends and neighgood paycheck.’” There is an alternative. bors,” writes Boston University Sociology Professor Juliet Schor, Ph.D. In her groundbreaking book, Work and Consume Less, Plenitude: The New Economics of Live More True Wealth, she argues that contrary Attwood stresses that living in line with to many economists’ assumptions, a one’s passion isn’t just about work, shorter work week and smaller econnoting, “It’s about your relationships and friends, your spirituality and health, omy is better for society as a whole. More, such a lifestyle, “allows people what you consume and where you to build stronger social connections, choose to live…” She asks clients to write down five maintain their physical and mental life-defining passions (see sidebar) and health and engage in activities that are use them as a guidepost. “Whenever more creative and meaningful.” you are faced with a choice, a decision or an opportunity, choose in favor of Any Example Proves your passion,” she counthe Rule sels. Attwood has observed Ever since childhood Purpose firsthand how success often days of helping her follows, because, “When concentrates your mother make clothing you choose in favor of the for the family, Juliette things that have the great- effort and energy Bastian has had a pasest, deepest meaning for sion for fashion design. on what’s you, the universe supports Her love of dancing important; you dates back to watching you more than if you are just tepid and neutral about American Bandstand. become something.” But when it came to For some, that has effective by being choosing a career, meant working fewer hours “There was always this for less pay, in order to al- selective. Nothing trigger that went off in low more time for clarifying energizes like a my head that said, ‘You meditation, family dinners, need to make money,’” clear purpose. volunteering at a local shelshe explains. ter, taking a long-yearned-for ~ Rick Warren, from The By her mid-40s, this dance class or planning the San Dimas, California, Purpose Driven Life
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