Sunday, November 22, 2009
Passion has also been a key variable in my happiness equation. As someone who may be lacking in certain departments, passion certainly isn’t one of them. For those who know me, they can attest to the fact I am a firestorm of passion. I have been lucky to have been passionate about jobs, hobbies, and life in general. When the flame of passion inside of me dies, I know I have lost touch with my most authentic, creative self. I then make a concerted effort to reignite this flame because passion is what propels me forward, energizes me, and makes me fully embrace life.
In my late twenties I started to consider whether or not passion was enough to be happy. For some individuals maybe it would be, but for myself I realized I was missing something in my life. When I turned 30 I realized I wasn’t leading a life of purpose. My passion filled life had me coasting along on a smiley happy highway of life, but I didn’t feel completely fulfilled. I felt like a jack-in-the-box that had its lid sealed shut. During this time I was also having dreams of being in danger and when I would try to scream for help, I found myself voiceless. I would try over and over to find my voice but no sound would emerge.
The reason for the reoccurring voiceless dreams and overall feelings of discontent finally became clear. During a meditation session I received a strong message that I was being called to be a teacher. Shortly after this dream I had a chance encounter with a spiritual man who told me point blank I was meant to be a teacher, but not a traditional teacher one would find in a classroom setting. He envisioned me as a spiritual teacher. I then met one individual after another who used the word teacher to describe me. Before these messages I had never considered my purpose in life to teach others. I thought, “What do I possibly have to teach others?” Up until this point I had been a dedicated student and felt I had a considerable amount to still learn about life. However one door after another started to open and I had to decide whether or not I would confidently walk through these doors in my new role as a teacher.
The universe wasn’t giving me subtle hints about my purpose in life, but instead the universe was sending out blaring sirens that were hard to ignore. The key for me was to fully pay attention to these hints and take appropriate action.
The actions I took involved starting my own coaching business, writing, and committing time to community service, specifically as a youth mentor. The voiceless dreams all of sudden stopped because I found my voice through writing. I no longer felt like a jack-in-the-box because I fully owned my power as a teacher through coaching and mentoring. My purpose in life was becoming clear, and for the first time I could answer the question, “Why am I here?”
The happiness equation of my life now had a new “purpose” variable in it. After years of questioning and searching, life finally made sense. My life will always be a constant work in progress and I know there are certain areas that still need attention; however, I know I am now on the right path. The reason is because my life now stands for something greater than myself.
Colleen Canney is a Career, Life, and Wellness Coach based in Seattle, WA. She coaches clients around the US and is available for both in-person and telephone coaching. If you are seeking inspiration, guidance, support, please feel free to contact Colleen for an initial FREE consultation. For more information on Colleen, please visit her website at: www.colleencanney.com or contact her via email at colleencanney@live.com.