Passion is just one of the topics that I am asked about. I received an email awhile back from Diann asking the question, Is it okay to have passion outside of my work? I love to garden, but I’m afraid that it will take my focus away from what pays the bills. Below is my answer to Diann.

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Diann,

Wow! I’m so sorry this has taken me so long, but I’m so glad you sent this to me. Why? Because there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG with you gardening. Do I believe you should be sharing your talents with others? Yes. Do I think it should consume your whole life? HECK no!

And your talents shouldn’t be defined by someone else. Frederick Buechner said the place where your passion and the world’s needs meet is your calling. In other words, how can you take what you REALLY love in life and help other people with it? While understanding that you need to take care of your household FIRST!!! Not be guilted into taking care of others.

This brings me to your gardening. I’m wondering if there is a way that you can take that passion and bless others? Can you create a business? Can you create a ministry? I’m not exactly sure, and I don’t want to influence you in a direction too much, but I think there might be something there. I am a teacher, a speaker, and and a writer. I love doing it and apparently I’m good at it. I use it to change lives.

I really hope this answered your question. If not, PLEASE let me know so we can continue to dialog. (I do travel like mad, so it may take a bit. :-))

CLo

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There is nothing that says that your work should be your only focus. Your job isn’t who you are, it’s what you do. At the end of your life, don’t look back on your work as the main or only focus in your life. Balance your life as you should. For more on how to do that, check out Zig Ziglar’s Wheel Of Life. This CONTINUALLY is in my top ten post every month, even though I published it a year ago.

Question: How important is it to have passion outside of work?