What’s Your Passion?

A few years back, I was at brunch with some girlfriends, having just come from one of my weekly dance classes. One of my friends looked at my overflowing bag, saw a big fluffy tulle tutu and a pair of heels and asked, “So tell me about this class of yours!” I shared with her about the dance embodiment practice I’ve been taking for almost a decade and that even my first class years ago, stirred a feeling of self-intimacy I’d never experienced previously. I shared that there are no mirrors, which often shocks people as they wonder how you can work on your moves without seeing them. It’s far from a typical dance class as there’s definitely no talk of hitting the mark or watching your footwork. Its focus is about connecting inward to how it feels, rather than outward to how it looks. I told her that great friendships often develop between students based on shared vulnerability as opposed to shared achievements or career paths. And most importantly I told her how at home in my body I felt there, how I lit up I was when I danced and how my thoughts just seemed to flutter away. After I said all that, my cheeks hurt from smiling so much. My friend took a pause and replied, “Wow, I really don’t know if I love anything as much as you love dance.”

And it’s true, I’m extremely passionate about dance. And it sparked a great convo that day at brunch, about what lights everyone up. And what kept coming up was that it wasn’t only about the activity, it was also about what the activity opened up for them in their lives. For me, I loved who I became because of dance. The more I danced, the more I connected to what made me feel alive outside of that room. I became more confident at work, more willing to create healthy boundaries, and more able to say no to toxic relationships. Finding my passion, was a gateway to myself. And it got me thinking, how does one discover their deepest passions?

If you’re wondering this too, keep reading! Here’s a few ways to tap in and get some clues to reveal your passions.

• When do you lose all sense of time and space?
  Have you ever had that moment when you’ve been engaged in something so intensely that you realize hours have passed as if they were minutes? When we’re in that space, we’re tapped into creating and it’s often described as being in the flow! It’s super powerful because lines blur between us and our higher consciousness. So take note of what you’re doing in those moments, it’s a clue from your soul to pay attention.

• What did you love to do when you were younger?
  Oftentimes when we are wee little tots, play is the norm and expected. And it’s part of our learning and socialization. I admit, I’d do anything to be taken back to kindergarten for a day. I remember playing in the woods for hours, pretending that the big pine trees were my many homes and it’s no surprise that now as an adult, I LOVE nature and will drive hours to trek into the woods. Our inner little selves can give us info about what we also love as an adult. I encourage you to set aside the emails, the plans, the meetings and just allow yourself to play!

• What if the things you’re passionate about are already in your life?
  Maybe you enjoy making your coffee in the morning and it’s the thing you enjoy most about your day, or you love having a conversation about sneakers with your coworker. These are all little taps from your passion guides saying, “look at little deeper at this thing.” When you get really present with what you’re doing and give extra intention to the things you’re doing, it allows you to clue into the things that light you up!

Finding your passions is different for every single one of us. Some of us love the beach, and others love the ferry that takes us there. Others love the hat they wore there, or talking about the way the tides affect the moon…you get my drift. When you get that curious tap, take steps towards what it could be. And don’t be surprised if when you start to explore, you find that you have many. When we give ourselves permission to have passions, we also give ourselves permission to be inspired!

What are you passionate about? What’s the things that your soul craves and could do for hours? Please share with me your past and current discoveries. Let’s celebrate each other’s passions together!

Quote of the week:
“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious."
— Albert Einstein

With ♡ and gratitude,
Jennifer