Are you following your passion?

I met a number of ex-colleagues and friends from American Express in a get-together recently. It was a wonderful meeting people with whom one has spent many years of one’s professional life. One common question that was asked by almost everyone I spoke to – “how did you manage this huge transition from being a successful corporate leader to being a coach”? I could read their inquisitiveness in the question – if there was an easy way to follow their passion to achieve happiness and fulfillment that was currently missing in their life.

My answer was – I was lucky to have a coach and I went through a session of self-discovery that helped me to understand what I was passionate about, what would give me real happiness (read as “not just money”) and thereafter my transformation, though challenging, was driven by my passion.

What I found after talking to them was that many of them would like to get away from their mundane corporate roles and follow their passion but they can’t imagine life without that monthly pay cheque. Even though they acknowledged that they were financially secure they couldn’t imagine a life without their jobs and a persistent accumulation of wealth. They definitely want a more fulfilling and happy life but can’t overcome their insecurity for money.

If you have the same dilemma then I would like to share my personal experience. You have to delink your overall fulfillment and happiness from that ever-moving financial target (“I will do this once I have so much wealth” – sounds familiar isn’t it?). Until the time you continue to chase that number, achieving real happiness and fulfillment may continue to elude you. I am, in no way, undermining the importance of money in life, but chasing money is meaningless when it doesn’t allow you to follow your passion or when it overpowers your ability to enjoy small things in life that give you happiness.

At the end of the day, money does give us comfort and security but that may not be the only thing that may lead you to have a fulfilling life. Imagine when you will look back at your life when you are 80 or 90 years old, you may regret that you spent precious years accumulating wealth and didn’t take out time to do things that you always wanted to do.

“Things that matter the most should never be at the mercy of things that matter the least.” (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)

It will be wonderful if we can enjoy life every day and don’t postpone things that you are passionate about to that tomorrow……which never comes. Enjoy the wealth that you have accumulated so far rather than planning to spend it the day when you have “enough”. Stop accumulating for your children as they will charter their own journey. I hope the day when you get to flaunt your wealth is not when you are spending money at a hospital or for buying expensive medicines!

“The tragedy of life is not death but what we let die of within us while we live.” (Norman Cousins)

Following your passion doesn’t necessarily mean leaving your job or profession or stop earning money. It means doing something that gives you immense pleasure, happiness and makes you feel resourceful. It makes you feel that you are living your larger life purpose. For e.g., if you have a knack for writing, you could think of a way to start writing a blog on the weekend along with your normal well paying job. Similarly, if you like to sing or play an instrument, I am sure you can find some time to follow that passion along with your busy routine. Or if you want to be an entrepreneur you can take out some time to connect with start-up mentoring groups to get ideas.

If you follow your passion you will soon realize that it not only makes you happier but also improves your relationship with people (both personal & professional). You would also notice a significant improvement in your performance at work place. Simple reason – you are no more suppressing your desires by giving an excuse of a busy routine.

So imagine if you had all the money in the world to have a comfortable life what is that one thing that you would like to do? Do you know what you are passionate about? Do you know what is your “Life Purpose”?

If not, take the first step to find that out. A coach can also help you identify that.

“The smallest of action is always better than the boldest of intentions.” (Robin S. Sharma)

So make a beginning today and follow your passion for a happier you 🙂