Hi Friends! Welcome.
Thanks for stopping by. Today I'm sharing what's become a personal pursuit of mine and I believe will resonate with a lot of you.
Research shows that if you discover what it is you truly enjoy
doing, and do that, you’re more fulfilled, have better health and less
depression. Source: Why Finding Your Passion is Essential
In this post, I’m referring mostly to pursuing a vocation
doing what you love while making a living at it. However, as a Christ follower,
there’s a vital part to add, which is using your God-given, spiritual gifts and talents.
Combining the two can be exciting and fulfilling as you walk
in the works God has prepared for you, (Ephesians 2:10).
What do you daydream about from your office cubicle or while
sitting in rush-hour traffic? What are you most passionate about?
For some of you, trying to answer this question, only leaves
a question mark sitting on top of your head.
Do you love dogs? Start a dog-sitting/walking business. Do
you love to cook/bake? Then start a catering business, own a restaurant or
become a chef.
If you’re like me, you’ve felt you haven’t had time to
explore those things which tug your heart and draw you like a magnet. Responsibilities
and circumstances may have driven you down a path, not necessarily of your
choosing.
Divorce, death of a spouse, health problems, or any number
of things, will decide for you what path to take. As a single mom, I just
needed a job to keep a roof over me and my kids. It felt frivolous to
fanaticize about having a job I loved, and to love what I was doing.
Can we really make our passion become our livelihood and be
excited about going to work every day?
No one can answer that question for you, but yourself. I’ve
known people who pursued their passion, using their gifts and talents as their
life’s work and never regretted it. It might mean less money, but this kind of
fulfillment doesn’t have a price tag.
I think sometimes we mistakenly believe that what we truly
desire to do with our life will lead us down a selfish path; that God’s path
means doing something less enjoyable.
We feel that to pursue a passion God gives us talents and
abilities for, must sit on the back burner, while we fulfill daily obligations,
which often leave us exhausted, with little time for anything else. I believe
the term for this is “The Daily Grind” or better known as the “rat race.”
I wonder if this is what causes depression for so many?
As I’ve spent more time lately thinking and praying about this,
I’ve found hope and direction from God’s word that I want to share with you.
I’ve come up with five simple steps you can take now, to help get you unstuck
and moving forward and closer to doing what you love.
Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Take baby steps.
- Take a skills/personality assessment. These are tests that compile your likes, dislikes, morals, values, among other traits and talents to help you determine the jobs or ministries you’d be best suited for. This is one I took and recommend, but you can search for others: Free Shape Test
- After completing an assessment, focus on the areas you’re strongest in. Determine if you need to sharpen any skills through more training, practice and experience.
- Connect with others who share the same interests and passions. Example: I want to become a better writer, so I joined Word Weavers, an international online writing critique group with local chapters.
- Be patient. While reality is the bills must be paid, you can block off as little as 15 minutes a day to work toward your goal.
- Pray and trust God to open doors. He wired you in specific ways. There will never be another you who can do what God has planned for you to do. Check your motives and desires under the light of His word.
Taking these steps are a great start to get out of a rut
and moving forward. I'm doing these steps too, and must say, I'm getting excited as I've become unstuck and now ready for God's best.
I invite you to share your thoughts and any advice you might
have in the comments area below.
Until next time, follow Him and stay the course,
Terri
Photos courtesy of Pixabay.com
