Regret or Passion? Which Will Be Yours?

I once attended a retreat on how to live with passion and fulfill one's life's work. The facilitator posed the question, "If money was not an issue, yet you had to work full-time, what would you do?" Answering this question was a turning point for me. Now - years later - I am doing much of what came up in my answer.

How would you answer this question? Ask yourself, "What am I good at? What do my friends say I am good at? What do I enjoy and feel passionate about? What do I think is important?" The key to your happiness may well be held in the answers.

The answers may not provide you with something you would do on a full-time basis, but it is a wonderful way to discover what will make your life more complete. The willingness to acknowledge and act on the answers may well create the opportunity to live with more passion and joy than you ever thought possible.

In the answers lie your dreams. They will provide you with a road map of where you can put your energy in order to move closer to a more fulfilling and balanced life. Perhaps for you the answers will be an indication of where you can volunteer your time. Living with passion and joy means we don't have to have a monetary gain for everything we do. Many a career has been launched through the experiences gained from volunteer efforts.

Far too many people have dreams they have given up on. We often blame others or outside circumstances for the fact we are not accomplishing all we desire. Granted, there may be some outside circumstances that create real limitations. However, in many cases we may be using imagined limitations as an excuse to not move forward. It can be easier to blame other people and situations as the reason we have not achieved our potential than to walk through the fear of the unknown.

Limitations appear in many ways. Experience. Money. Time. Education. You name it, it is bound to be there. One of the greatest limitations is that of the mind. Determine which obstacles are real and which ones are imagined. Which excuses have been used over and over so that you will not have to face the fear of the unknown? Once you identify your real and imagined limitations, you will be able to work with them and move forward.

Granted, there is a lot that can dampen our spirits if we allow it. However, there are many opportunities to achieve your dreams if you are willing to step outside of your comfort zone, put effort into your vision and move forward little by little.

In order to break through your boundaries you must first realize what they are. Knowing what they are allows you to take action. Look for others who may have had similar roadblocks. Find out what they did to move forward. In their strategy may be your formula for success.

Are you secretly wishing you would do something with your life other than what you are doing, but fear holds you back? If you ask most people what their greatest regret is, more times than not they will say it is what they didn't do rather than what they did.

One of the greatest gifts we can give to others and ourselves is to unlock the talents we have been blessed with and to have the courage to use them. Ask yourself, "How well do I use my gifts to contribute to the well-being of myself and others?"

Will your life be filled with regrets or will it be filled with passion?

Kathleen Gage is a keynote speaker and business advisor based out of Draper, Utah. She is the author of several books including Message of Hope, Inspiring Thoughts for Uncertain Times. To sign up for Kathleen's free weekly inspirational thoughts visit http://www.turningpointpresents.com/mes sageofhope.htm

---

The 31 Absolute Best Resources for Self Improvement

Every week, I hear from people with the same Self... Read More

How to Get rid of the ?Overwhelm? Monster

If you wear many hats, manage a family and/or a... Read More

The Time To Start Working On Your Dream is Now - Not Later

Most of us are hesitant to start anything because we... Read More

How to Stay Motivated

You've read a book that motivates you to action; you've... Read More

Courage and Fear

Mark Twain once said, "Courage is resistance to fear, mastery... Read More

Staying the Course

Are you willing to stay the course? Once you have... Read More

Step Out

Living your successful life requires you to step out. I... Read More

Going with the Flow

This whole idea of change is founded on a single... Read More

Motivation: If Today Were the Last of All Days

"If today were the last of all days........" - Marilyn... Read More

What Google Can Teach You About Success

I just finished dinner and the segment was about to... Read More

If I Had 24 Hours To Live

A few years back, the ex-recording artist, turned Pastor, turned... Read More

The Power

I had a friend ask me a question not to... Read More

Creativity Management ? Productivity As A Job

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

The Road Less Traveled

Can someone please tell me why it is that men... Read More

Words Have Power

How many times have you heard or read that words... Read More

Avoid This Tendency And Youll Press Beyond Your Limits!

Inside of every one of us is the desire to... Read More

How to Master Lifes Problems

"Life is a Tiger-ride, by no means easy, but ride... Read More

What Does Your Future Hold? Do You Have A Plan? Or Are You Just Waiting To See What Happens?

We often find ourselves in a situation in which we... Read More

When Life Gives You Waves, Learn to S.U.R.F.

Would you like to learn a skill set and technique... Read More

Your Life Just OK? It Doesnt Have To Be That Way! Live the Life You Really Want To Live!

I have some questions for you. Are you ready? How... Read More

The Secret Motivation Strategy That Never Fails

No matter how much you want to make your dreams... Read More

Motivation By A Challenge

Many humans are motivated by the thought of doing something... Read More

The P Word... Procrastination

A problem many of us are familiar with. Its showing... Read More

Making the Invisible Visible: The WOW Behind the HOW!

"We must be the change we wish to see in... Read More

Taking The Leap

Every four years, February gives us a whole 24 hours... Read More

Decide

Where do you want to be in a year? In... Read More

Are You A Visionary

Dreams may seem unimportant in your quest for success. And... Read More

Harnessing the Power of the Unknown: Move from Repeating the Past to Re-inventing the Future

The Unknown - it is scary territory for many, something... Read More

Ahead of the Curve to be on Top

I once heard a statement that no matter how good... Read More

7 Stepping-stones to Career Growth and Excellence

Achieving excellence in our work is an integral part of... Read More

Elements of Change

The key to achieving more than you currently are, no... Read More

The Conversation of Recovery - Part One

Transformational Counseling is all about assisting another human being to... Read More

Self-Esteem: You Matter

You'd be surprised. Maybe amazed. If you could see the... Read More