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Since this was the week of Valentine’s Day, I thought I would talk about love, and specifically what we love to do.
So it begs the question, do you love what you currently do, or are you just going through the motions in life?
How do we know if we really love what we do?
For many of us, it may be obvious. But is it really? For some it is difficult to find, and for others, it is a never ending search. Do we know if we really love what we do, or do we just simply think that we do. Are we settling for mediocrity? Do we miss seeing the bigger picture – the forest for the smaller, obvious trees?
Well I would argue that loving what we do is no different than loving another person. It’s having a passion about something in the same way you have a passion about someone.
So lets consider that theory for a minute. If that’s the case, then the following would apply:
“Do what you love; you’ll be better at it. It sounds simple, but you’d be surprised how many people don’t get this one right away.” – LL Cool J
1. You think about what you do all the time.
Yes in the same way you think about a person you love all the time, your activity would also be on your mind, in your subconscious continuously. It’ s on your mind when you wake up and on your mind when you try to go to sleep. It has you worrying, it has you laughing, it has you thinking.
2. You want to be involved with it all the time.
You cannot let it go. You are constantly doing something related to it every minute. You are thinking of ways of making it better. Like a loved one, it is constantly on your mind.
3. You don’t like being away from it.
When you are on holidays and away from it, you are not relaxed. You are not happy being away from it; you are tense, maybe jealous, even sidetracked, and/or anxious. You may be checking in daily to help ease your stress of being away from it. Just like a loved one, you miss it constantly when you are apart.
4. It excites you to be doing it.
Oh, yes it does. Just like being with a loving partner, doing your business or your passion excites you. It generates that internal desire to act. You feel motivated and exhilarated. It makes you jump out of bed every day. You can’t wait to get started. You are excited about what you are doing and who you are doing it with!
5. You feel comfortable and satisfied from doing it.
Yes it feels right. It feels good before, during and afterwards. You enjoy doing it every minute of every day. You look forward to it. It never gets boring. While there may be frustrations, you take them in stride and work through them. You hardly ever look at the clock when you are doing it.
6. You prioritize it above all else.
Yes doing it comes first over all other things. It definitely has priority in your life and that should not be surprising as it is on your mind constantly.
7. You think long term.
You love what you are doing; therefore, you are in it for the long term, just like a serious relationship. It is not going to fade or disappear on you. You are looking and planning way down the road. You are committed to a long term relationship with what you do.
8. Your sense of self-worth has grown by doing it.
You have become more than what you were before. You are more knowledgeable, more confident, more interesting as a direct result. You have had to learn new things and have had to take action. You are stronger and more positive.
9. You don’t struggle to stay focused or disciplined.
You are busy all the time. You don’t have to really work at it, because it is FUN! And because it is fun, you are committed to doing it every day.
10. Finally, you express your feeling about it in public (and with anyone!).
You talk about it all the time. You are proud of what you do and tell others. You show your excitement to others, and feel the need to share your happiness, just like you do with a loved one. In fact, you can become too much sometimes, constantly talking about it with your colleagues, friends and family, but they see your passion, commitment, and dedication in what you do.
So think about what you do right now on a daily basis. Is it your passion? Does it excite you? Are you satisfied?
If not, then perhaps it is time to take a relook at your life. Maybe you would be a lot happier doing less, or doing more for others, or developing a business. Whatever it is, life is short and you don’t want to go through life without living the life you want with passion.
So love what you do in the same way you love someone important in your life!
You will never regret it!
“If you do what you love, you will never work a day in your life.” – Marc Anthony
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