Discovering What You Love - Right Under Your Nose

Last week, Mike left a comment, in which he mentioned that "after many years of struggling to find both my own identity and passion, I've discovered what has been right under my nose for many years.  Music!"

I find this issue of discovering your true passion "right under your nose" all too common and absolutely fascinating.  It's fascinating because it begs the question:  if  this thing that we are so passionate about is right there, right in front of us, or, as Mike writes, is "in my genes," how come it takes us so long to discern what it is?

Part of the problem here may have to do with our fears.  We are frequently afraid to admit to ourselves that a particular passion or interest is calling to us.  We are afraid, because once we acknowledge that voice, change is unavoidable.  Quite often in these situations, when we say we don't know what we want to do with our lives, we actually do know, we just don't quite feel like facing the fact.

Another problem may have to do with the fact that our real gifts and talents express themselves in ways that are different from what we traditionally understand as talents.  They are not about being good at math or being detail-oriented or having strong organizational skills.

What I mean is gifts that have to do with the way we are in the world.  In a sense, we are talking here about our deeper qualities, something that Dick Richards, author of "Is Your Genius at Work" (a book I love), calls our genius.  I won't write a detailed review of the book here - there's plenty written on Dick's website and on Amazon.  I'll just tell you how he defines genius:

Genius can be thought of as "the exceptional power that comes most naturally to you, as the process you undertake so spontaneously and easily that you do not notice it, and as the business in which you are engaged as a person.

It can also be thought of in a mystical way:  as the energy of your soul and as an answer to the question of why you exist within the human community.  Your genius has been a source of success and satisfaction in work that you have done in the past, and it will be the source of success and satisfaction in your future work."

Part of Richards's guidance (and there are many illuminating exercises in the book aimed at helping you recognize and name your genius) is to begin noticing what you are doing when you are not noticing what you are doing. 

Paradoxical as it may sound, it actually makes sense.  If your genius is Engaging the Heart, you're likely engaging the heart every step of the way, no matter what you are dealing with.  You'll be bringing this gift to all of your interactions with people, be it with friends or your dentist or the dry-cleaning lady, and to the way you handle projects at work.  It will be part of your value system.  You will probably be engaging the heart even when you are doing the dishes.  And if you are in an environment - a job - where you cannot do that, where it's unappreciated or even actively discouraged, you will feel stifled and increasingly frustrated. 

This gift, this genius, is what people come to you for and what you give away readily and openly.  It is the core of your unique contribution to any project. It is that which is the source of both your frustration and your elation in life (to borrow once again from Richards's terminology).  And at the same time, you are likely going through life taking this gift completely for granted - precisely because it is such a natural part of who you are.

Other examples of geniuses that Richards gives are Digging Deeper, Building Bridges, Feeling Deeply, Building Platforms, Exploring Pathways.  Obviously, these names should be taken symbolically, rather than literally.

Having gone through the process of identifying my own genius, I can testify to Richards's point that discovering it was a truly illuminating experience that put many things in perspective.  It contributed greatly to my understanding of the kind of work I need to be engaged in to feel that I'm making a meaningful contribution and living on purpose.

Anyway, just some rambling thoughts on a Monday night... Have you had the experience of discovering a new direction for your life in something that was there all along?  What was that like? Do leave a comment - I'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject.

Comments

[Steve]

For some folks, you might need a new career to truly embrace your calling. But for many people, you can find a way to creatively incorporate your calling into your existing work life.

For example, music. If music inspires you, gives you energy, how can you find a way to bring that energy to your work? How can you infuse music into your job? We knew a man who developed factories and pipelines across international boundaries for his career, but was inspired by music. So he worked to bring together an orchestra, with performers from each of the countries where he was active. On a smaller scale, at a company reception, I convinced my manager to hire a jazz pianist I know. You can precede company announcements with different musical themes, inspiring different moods.

As a frustrated artist, I used to send company memo's as sketches rather than emails, and took advantage of my hectic travel schedule to view regional art that I never would have otherwise seen.

Companies thrive on passion. If its busting inside you, find a way to let it show. There are outlets for you where you are if you are a bit creative. And as you find how your passion changes your approach to your work, you can explore whether your current path will satisfy you, or whether you feel inspired by that energy to take a greater leap.

[Izabella]

Hey Steve! So great to hear from you, and thank you for your comment. I agree with you completely that bringing passion into your work consciously and intentionally, whatever your work circumstances, is probably one of the first things to consider when you are trying to determine how you can integrate who you are with what you do. Some of the best companies do offer opportunities to do that, realizing that tapping into their employees' authentic passion and creativity will benefit the company as a whole. It's those companies that don't that produce unhappy employees who feel - justifiably - as though their human potential is going to waste.

One of the questions we need to answer here is whether or not we want to put passion at the center of our career and make it its driving force. Not everyone needs or wants that, and the answer to this question is highly individual for everyone. There are just so many factors that play into our decision about how we choose to make a living - our values, our goals, our obligations, our vision for the rest of our life, etc.

Another thing that your comment brings up for me is the question of what we really mean by passion in this context. I've actually been following a great thread on this subject on another blog. I'll bring it up in my next post.