As a child, many of my passions were not honored. What people often dreamed for me was not what I wanted. My passions were rarely talked about, respected, or honored in any way. Yet, I persisted by stealing time away to engage in what I loved to do.
Later, as a parent, I have been zealous about finding out what my own children are passionate about and supporting their dreams and direction. I felt the same way about my students--I wanted them to be who they are and I wanted them to develop in areas that they were passionate about. I believe that passion-driven living leads to meaningful contribution and happy, good lives.
Honor your passions
Even now, many decades into the life journey, I find myself treating my greatest passions as an afterthought rather than a priority. Why do I still have trouble honoring my passions and giving those passions the time they deserve? I'll have to explore that question more, but in the meantime, I want to carve out more and better time for my passions as well as greater self-respect, confidence, and investment into those passions.
Feed your needs
As much as I may not honor my passions, I also am resistent to feeding my needs. With regard to some needs, I often ignore them and don't take the time or find the apt resources to feed those needs. Hence, the needs continue, and unmet needs act as heavy weights when it comes to promising progress and good living. Why do we negate our needs? Why don't we do what we need to do to feed our needs? Another good question to explore, but right now, I have made a few decisions about ways that I'll feed my needs in the coming days. Once I made those decisions, I felt my body relax greatly.
As individuals we all have unique passions and needs, and if we don't honor our passions with good time and energy or feed our needs, we will be less happy than possible. Each of us has a lot to contribute to this big world we live in, and the path to this contribution is clearly via feeding your needs and honoring your passions. Onward.