Passion is what drives and compels you, what energizes and motivates you. Passion is what gives you life. It is the why and what that gives you a reason for being. Often it is hard to articulate what your passion is. So if someone would ask you (or me): WHAT excites you? WHAT do you love to talk about and think about? WHAT gives you energy that drives and compels you? WHAT, even in the face of hard times or crisis, do you return to that continues to feed you and gives you LIFE? Or even, WHY do you like what you like? A key is this…what gives you LIFE?
If it feels like a noose, it probably isn’t your passion. Does it bring life or death to you? What do you find yourself continuing to do through the many seasons and changes in life? You are intrigued and can’t help yourself but to do it in a variety of ways throughout your whole life. It is where you find your voice, your story, your reason for being, your stake in the ground, your… “I just really like to do it; it’s who I am.”
I was honored to be asked to write a chapter in the book. “Ignite Your Passion, Kindle Your Internal Spark”. Below is an excerpt from the author interview from April Williams of Cyberlife tutors:
You are a co-author of “Ignite Your Passion Kindle Your Internal Spark. “What is it that you are passionate about?
Sheri Bland: I am passionate about holding onto the truth that “life is good”. With all the obstacles, struggles and negativity in life, I want my life to matter, to be a life well lived and say, “it was all worth it, I did my best, helped change my world and had a good time doing it!” I don’t want to just survive life- I want to live it ABUNDANTLY and bring others alongside me to do the same. Conceptualizing what your passion is can be confusing; but thinking about what excites you, energizes you, what cranks up your interest helps you identify your passion.
CyberLife Tutors: Why did you contribute this specific story to “Ignite Your Passion Kindle Your Internal Spark?”
Sheri Bland: In my own season of change and transition, I was ignited by the idea of how to hold onto, discover and re-invent my own passion. I recalled writing out my personal life statement at a leadership training I presented, and that has been an anchoring statement for me. I see that I continue to do and be all that I wrote out in those 2 sentences, though the way I do it differs in various seasons. I thought it might be helpful to others to be able to actually write out what their personal passion and mission statement is in “The Passion Equation”. Thinking about it is one thing; actually doing it will help you articulate your passion and purpose.