This week I share with you Tip #6 from Ten Self-Care Tips: Looking for Sane Practices in Times of Insane Demands – Find. Your. Passion. What fuels you, energizes you? What makes you excited to get out of bed in the mornings?  Find out what it is and make time for it.

I first became aware of the importance of this when I met with my new doctor in 2015. “What do you do for fun?” he asked. I sat motionless, hoping I wouldn’t break into tears.  

“I don’t do anything for fun. I don’t have the time or energy,” I offered in reply.

The weight of self-neglect began to melt, sliding across my back as my shoulders slumped into their most comfortable posture. I felt overwhelmed. I was into the third year of being caregiver to my husband who was in a downward spiral of strokes and heart attacks. Somewhere along the way I had stopped doing anything for myself. I neglected my relationships. I neglected my health. I stopped doing things that used to bring me joy. I just kept working at the office and working at home. I knew my doctor had touched on something important.

Aware of my situation, my doctor continued. “You have to find your passion. Find your purpose – something you can be passionate about. That’s necessary for your health.” He prescribed for me to find a passion and pursue it. I did, and I began pulling out of that funk. I began to find, and pursue, my passion. (And writing to you in this blog is part of it!)

Maybe you already know what your passion is and you’re living it. That’s great! But I find many people are like I was – they don’t know what they want, what would energize them, why they’re here on this earth. They’re stuck. If that’s you, I urge you to search for passion. Make a goal to find and name your passion, your purpose. You can start with little activities like:

• Make a list of things you can do when you find you have an unexpected free 15 minutes.
• Recall what entertained you as a child; then figure out how to bring that into your life now.
• Take 15 minutes a day to sit in quiet and ask your soul, your inner self, to show you where your passion lies.

Life is a journey – a wonderful journey. And living it with passion is indeed an important part of self-care.  So go ahead, find your passion. Name it. Embrace it. Live it.