I'll be honest, I probably would never have found or picked up The People Project if I hadn't been in this job. And I would have missed out on a deeply encouraging and thought-provoking book. Ironically, reading The People Project has caused me to ponder my long-term goals, my passions (or lack of them), and how a career fits into what God's plan is for our future. Yes, even a career that, from all outside appearances, seems so tailor-made for me.
One of the quotes from The People Project that hit home for me last week, has to do with failures and learning from them.
Constant reflection allows the opportunity to embrace "failure" instead of running from it into the land of insanity.
{Steve Laswell, The People Project, pg. 110}
I screwed up last week. I disappointed a co-worker and I disappointed myself. I lost my temper when I shouldn't have, I over-reacted and beat myself up over things that I couldn't fix. But I desire to embrace and learn from the failure so I don't go insane, and so I will do better in the future. At the same time, my response to my own failure also made me think about what was important to me, and what really wasn't.
No job is perfect, but one of the things that I've been struck by in recent weeks is the building desire within me to find my passion. I don't know what that is - but I'd like to know. I'd love to experience a passion for something like Becky has found. It would be great to be as excited about what I do every day as Jon is about his job. Even during my brief interactions with Steve, I have observed his passion for helping people reach their leadership potential. While working in social media and book promotion is light-years better for me than counting pills...it is not my passion.
“Find something you're passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it.” {Julia Child}
Maybe my passion is editing - I'm still exploring that. Perhaps it's travel and inter-cultural relationships - that certainly excites me. Being used by God in the lives of those around me always makes me do the {happy dance}, and I can spend hours writing without paying attention to the time. The point is, although I'm not sure what the future holds, I'm committed to making time for two things:
- Finding my passion
- Making people a priority
In the meantime, I'm sure I'll continue to make mistakes...and learn from them. I'm grateful for my job and how it allows me to help with our financial goals. I'm also appreciative of the patience, training, and help from my co-workers when I screw up. I'm thankful for the opportunity to come across books like The People Project, and men of encouragement like Steve Laswell. And I'm resting in the truth of Philippians 1:6, that "He who began a good work in [me] will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
What about you? Have you found your passion?
My passion is studying the Word and sharing it through writing. And, though I've actually been doing that for years upon years, it was only recently (like, 2012) that I realized it was truly my passion. It's that thing I get so excited about doing; I do it for free because I love it so much; and I can't imagine NOT doing it.
ReplyDeleteThat's one good thing that's come out of my physical limitations: I had time and inclination to start blogging about what God was teaching me. And it's grown from there. And my passion for doing that, for using my words to encourage and edify others to know God more, has simply exploded.
So I guess I would say, pay attention to what you love doing each day. Don't force yourself to find a passion - I've done that, and it really didn't excite me like this does. Give it time. Also, here's a good article I just read last week that might help you: http://michaelhyatt.com/find-your-passion-in-three-steps.html
Carrie- boy do I relate. This was beautifully written. I used to think being a writer was my passion - turns out it's not. I think I have realized that I don't desire to have one passion. I don't want one thing pulling all my attention and focus. I want to have many passions. I desire to pursue many things that all point towards my goal of the moment/year.
ReplyDeleteBeing a Mom is fabulous and is one of my passions, but I am a better person if I do other things as well.
Working on tasks lists makes me super happy - but if that's my passion then I would be totally unbalanced (and boring frankly).
Finances are fun and I get enjoyment out of crunching numbers but it's not the center of my life.
Connecting with others from other countries is a wonderful passion that I've found - but not the only one. It can't be the only one, I have family and friends and other relationships to develop and strengthen.
I think God has designed us to worship and serve Him and He wants us to do as He leads, passion or not. I try to keep that focus.
Praying for you!
SHOPPING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Guess who? (just kidding, though I do like it and especially for other people). I would have to say being a mom and teaching are my passions. Gee, that sounds eearily like our mom!
ReplyDeleteI'll look out for that book, sounds like a great one!
ReplyDeleteYep, I'm 47 and am still finding my passion. Great post, and thanks for sharing the title!
ReplyDeletePerhaps I'm like Angie, with several passions. I do know that reading, book reviewing, and nature are essential to me; that I'm energized by hanging out with young people; and that I instinctively try to make the people around me try to feel good...most days and most people.
I suppose my passion is to try to serve God as he wants me to, and I don't want to box that in by defining myself.
Books that make you think are the best ones to read, aren't they? This one sounds like a good one! Thanks for dropping by my blog!
ReplyDeleteI enjoy my work but I'm not sure I've found my passion. I find reading about other people- whether they are passionate about their work or doing something I think I might be passionate about doing- helps me put myself into the role and gives me a safe way to explore. Great post!
ReplyDeleteJenny