How to Choose Your Passion

Consider this: Do you ever get bored of reading the same books over and over again and not getting results? Are you fed up with experts telling you that there are 12 steps to success? Do you feel unfulfilled when you’ve finally done it all, and come home to an empty house?

Now read on.

I have a constant supply of books in my house that I like to read and re-read from time to time. Recently I scanned over my collection (my library, which happens to be the bathroom) and didn’t see anything I liked anymore. There’s an eclectic collection of business books, personal development, and spiritual matters. None of them, but one, caught my eye.

That one book is a free atlas of North America I got when I signed up for auto insurance at State Farm. It’s one of those big trucker atlases you get when your road trip really gets down to business.

It occurred to me that I like looking at maps because it makes me wonder what this new city, mountain range, ocean, stretch of road, looks like. I imagine.

It occurred to me that I like to travel to places to see new people, meet old friends, get away with my lover, relax, party, relax, improvise. I flow.

It then occurred to me that I don’t travel in a straight line, that I don’t visit city A, then B, then C and so on. I don’t aim for a goal, hit it, then run off the next destination. It’s more organic, winding, and full of discovery. I listen.

Having been a circus artist for 15 years, I am very good at traveling. I KNOW travel. I can flow on a trip, change course at anytime, visit any place, any country, meet anyone, and have a great time. I never feel like I’ve wasted my miles.

I love maps. It makes me want to explore. Think about how you feel when you are about to go on a trip.

The way you choose your passion is the same way you choose your trip. I am moving away from anything that promises a 3, 5, or 12 step process because becoming a businessman, circus artist, web designer, or building an Ironman suit (my personal goal) isn’t about steps. Or at least, that’s the most minor of focuses.

The process is about creating a map of your desired destinations and visiting them to enjoy the experience and to gather knowledge. Fortunately, before I got into the circus, I never read a book called “30-Days to Successful Circus Acrobatics”. I never had the notion of linear, goal-orientated achievement in my head for the circus, so I simply went where I felt I needed or wanted to go.

It was simple. And it worked.

I ended up having an incredible career, full of doubtful twists and turns, but always resulting in more magical experiences, and totally fulfilling adventures.

Now, on to you.

When something is not working for you, it’s probably because you are hitting it with a purely linear approach. Stop being so energetically masculine, and ask yourself what you would do if your professional goals were like taking a trip. How would you develop your career then?

Perhaps it would include:
1. Bringing along friends or family
2. Visiting a nearby interesting spot
3. Packing a back pack and walking (ie. going much slower than usual)
4.Getting there, allowing yourself the right to decide you don’t like it, and change course.

Most people are confused with the question as to how they choose their passion, mostly because the question frames it in such a way that limits you to choose only ONE THING.

And in today’s popular, masculine-driven, goal-orientated, results-only culture, it seems like a good question.

But it’s not.

That’s like asking, where do you want to travel to, and only getting one city to visit.

It’s always been the wrong question. It’s not, how do you choose your passion (singular), but rather, how can you experience all that you are passionate for (all-inclusive)?

Happy travels.

***

My question to you is: what is one place you haven’t visited yet, either a geographical place (like Paris) or a metaphorical place (like becoming a doctor)?

My answers are: making a feature length inspirational documentary/story film and moving into a new solar-powered, energy-efficient home here in Las Vegas.

What’s yours?