Five years ago I was stuck in a prison constructed by my own hands.
I wanted to do what truly set my soul on fire, but I didn’t think I could.
I was miserable and slowly losing hope, but one day it all changed.
I discontinued my subscription to negative thoughts.
And I began the journey.
The Change
I made the shift from waiting for something to taking matters into my own hands.
I went from coming up with reasons for why I couldn’t to saying “so what?”
I realized that I had been looking for permission to follow my passion. I was looking for people to tell me it was okay, and that it was all going to turn out fine.
But no one could give me the confirmation I was looking for, and I understood that it was never going to happen unless I dropped the need for outside approval.
The only approval I needed was from within.
Waiting wasn’t going to change anything, except make me older, so I decided to start.
I chose to stop saying no to my passion.
The Result
Making the decision to follow my passion changed my life slowly, but surely.
Once I took that first leap into the unknown, I realized I could follow my excitement. It was like a veil started lifting and I began catching glimpses of reality.
I didn’t have to wait for anything or anyone to give me permission. I didn’t have to seek outside approval, all I had to do was show up every day and put in the work.
All I had to do was start.
I followed my own sense of direction and I learned to trust myself. With each step, I discovered more and more of what I was capable of.
And I became aware of the fact that life can be enjoyed right now, even with all the perceived problems around me.
There’s uncertainty, fear, and worry, but I enjoy life more now, because I’m moving in the right direction. I feel more alive, and I’m excited to wake up in the morning.
And it all started with the decision to say hi to uncertainty.
The Path
Following my passion didn’t turn my life into a fairy tale. It didn’t change my life on the outside; instead it changed me on the inside.
It’s almost as if finding and following my passion wasn’t the end goal, but the process of getting there.
I now have more time to do what I love, and I’m more confident in following my heart.
At times it almost seems as if life lives itself. When I get out of the way, it’s like turning downstream and enjoying the ride.
It’s no longer such a struggle, because no matter how much I try to control life, things will still happen.
I’m still afraid. I still have problems. I still make mistakes, and everything goes on as normal, but at the same time, it doesn’t.
The Takeaway
If there’s anything I’ve learned during almost the last decade of making a living unconventionally, it is the fact that if I want to do something, I have to be willing to start before I’m ready.
You’ve probably been told to take action over and over again, but are you?
Or are you waiting for something?
If you aren’t getting the results you want then something needs to change.
Ready to Do What You Love?
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This article is very inspiring. I remember years ago chasing money until I realized that there was never enough. Three years ago I realized that I have a passion for one and food. Well, $15000.00 less, I’m the poorer man alive, rich in life. Great article!
Hi Henri,
Oh how timely it is for me to have stumbled upon your site. I recently decided to take a leap of faith to pursue a dream I’ve held at bay for years.
The job I’d been doing I consider a stepping stone in so many ways to that dream. It was a job that I went into and embraced with joy and passion, and absolutely LOVED doing. It was also a job that I was very much able to utilize my strengths, talents, and personal life experiences. Through this I touched a lot of lives, empowering those with similar life experiences to grow with laughter, music, and LOTS of silliness. They in turn touched my heart and life as well.
Like an obstacle course, I encountered some road bumps, road blocks, and several brick walls. Each of these though sometimes painful and/or difficult, were monumental in forging the path leading to the pursuit of my dream. I wouldn’t have traded a single moment of the journey, as it was growing experience unlike any other.
Rewarding, though it was, the road bumps and difficulties took their toll. I woke up one morning with the feeling that I was losing the passion, joy, and confidence that I had gone into this job with. I knew in that moment It was time to make a change, coincidentally the very next day our Pastor did a sermon complete on taking a leap of faith and following your dreams, complete with a visual example of such a leap. It was all the confirmation I needed.
Still, I waited a few weeks before taking action and a little over a month ago, I turned in my letter of resignation, yesterday was my last day, and today is the first day of the next leg of my journey.
I’m reachin for the stars… and KNOW they will land at my feet. 🙂
Great article!! Thanks so much for the inspiration!! 🙂
~Sue
Writer, Poet, Speaker, Singer, Dancer, Lover of Life & Queen of Silliness
By perseverance the snail reached the ark. ~C.H. Spurgeon
It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. ~Psalm 18:32 NIV
Dancing is like dreaming with your feet. ~Constanze
Fantastic story (and comment), Sue.
I like your perspective, and the synchronicity you’ve experienced. It’s funny how sometimes things line up so well.
Keep rocking!
Hi Henri!
I cant believe this. This webpage is precisely what I’ve been looking for, its the exact information I need right now. I’m going to start a lifestyle site that contains many health oriented topics and guess what, its what I’m interested in and also my goal to make it my business. I will follow your posts intensely.
Thanks! 🙂
Sometimes synchronicity hits!
Health is a great topic with a lot of potential.
Cheers, Art!
I just recently started doing things I love and it brought me so much joy. Surprised by Joy! And what I was doing was bringing so much joy not only into my own life, but the lives of others. It’s been the most heartening thing!
And all the while I was investing so much of my time and energy and sheer grunt work into following this bliss, all kinds of bliss kisses kept coming my way. A converation with a total stranger, almost daily verbal thanks and gratitude coming my way from people in my neighborhood. Attracting the people into my life that support what I am doing.
And all the while I have this nagging thing in my being, but this is not earning me money, I need to earn money, I need to go backwaards and tie myself to my desk to earn some money, and of course my spouse type thing constantly reminding me that I need to earn money.
So this morning I googled Does Following my Passion really work? And found this article.
OBVIOUSLY another Bliss Kiss.
That nagging voice usually calms down when it starts seeing the results of following your excitement. At least, that’s what happened to me.
Thanks for the amazing comment!
I am trying to relign my own thinking. It was always, I have to work today, I have to earn money and when I have invested all my time and energy into working this job, then with what time and energy I have left over, I will follow my bliss and do things I enjoy doing.
My thinking is now changing. I need to put my own joy and bliss first. I will spend the first daily fruits of time and energy doing my work that brings me Joy. This is now a priority. Stay on that outer fringe of creativity and joy and spend my energy here. I go to sleep filled with joy and expectation of what tomorrow will bring. I sleep well and soundly.
And then I spend 2nd half of my daily energy resources working at my actual job but it keeps falling lower on my scale of priorities.
And so it will work out, says my little nagging nagging nagging voice.
I am not going to earn any money doing my Joy thing, but itsn’t JOY a priceless persuit? A worthy priority?
I like the way you think. You’re following your joy while being practical, because you do have to keep a roof over your head (or at least it’s comfortable that way).
However, you never know where following your excitement may lead you, so keep your mind open for twists, turns and new opportunities 😉
Hi Henry –
I’m a HUGE follower of your website, and love reading your articles. When it comes to application though – I’m hugely lacking. Mainly coz my life is in the middle of a whirlwind wedding planning – which will be over in 10 days!! Thank goodness. I’m definitely excited for the wedding and looking forward to living a life with my future husband. By then, I should have PLENTY of time to apply all that I’m learning from you and all the other guys!
Anyway, I actually wanted to share this to you (and hopefully your readers): http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cranktank/im-fine-thanks
Check it out. Made me think of you while I was watching the trailer. Thanks for everything you do!!
Shenz
Thanks for the kind words!
I’m Fine Thanks seems like a great project from Adam Baker, who I think is doing excellent work.