Following your passion is the common advice given to people to help them on their path to success and happiness. I wonder, and hear others wonder, “How do you do that?” because I don’t always know which zeal to use on my path to accomplishment and satisfaction. You may have that same question or concern.
Some of us have many passions. How do we know which one to follow? Joseph Campbell describes this path as following your bliss. How do we follow that?
Putting those two concepts together has helped me realize that following your passion, or bliss, doesn’t have to mean forever, or for one purpose. Can’t you follow your areas of interest and excitement in your hobbies, as well as your career? Can’t your friends and family benefit from, and enjoy, you following your passions and bliss too?
The moment I put that together I felt calmer, and energized! I have lots of interests which I’m passionate about, and following my bliss with those interests has given me a delightful career path and exhilarating life experiences.
My mileage varies from what others have. I celebrate that difference now that I accept I don’t have to do what works for others to feel successful. That has allowed me to enjoy much success in many ways. That sure suits my “different drummer” approach to my life.
An example from my life of how professional advice doesn’t work for everyone comes from my junior high home economics class. We were all assigned something to research and present on fashion and hygiene. I got feet — ugh! Another friend got color — cool! Well, it was cool until I showed up wearing the colors she advised (from her research) to never wear together. I was wearing the fun hot pink and orange striped dress I’d purchased during my summer vacation, and did I feel special wearing it. It was a touch awkward — for everyone — when she boldly said to never wear pink and orange together. I continued loving my dress, despite the professional advice she shared; some other professional thought it was a good enough combination to create a dress with it. That was an example of me following my passion. Your mileage may vary too.
Ok, back to following your passions and bliss to success.
I have had numerous satisfying careers that have allowed me to follow my interests sequentially. My hobbies have been other ways to follow my bliss, at the same time I’m working in areas that I’m passionate about. Life is full and beautiful, especially when you live it on your terms.
Can you feel fruitful and happy doing a variety of things, spreading your wealth of passions through all aspects of your life? If you give yourself permission to not follow the wise counsel of others about follow those things your are excited and fired-up about, then you are set!
There’s more than one way to be successful. There’s more than one way to create your happiness. There’s more than one way to follow your passions, to follow your bliss. If you accept that possibility, your mileage may vary as you live an energized life with lifted spirit and great success.