Turning Passion into Purpose

“If you can’t figure out your purpose, figure out your passion. For your passion will lead you right to your purpose.”
~ Bishop T.D. Jakes

If you want to know your life’s purpose, think about the following questions. What do you ache for? Are you really, really, interested in meeting your heart’s longing?

Contrary to popular opinion, there is no such thing as multitasking. The brain can tend to only one thing at a time. Are you motivated enough or hungry enough to achieve your passion’s desire without alcohol or drugs or gaming yourself out of this world into a two-dimensional world? The mind follows the body. If we lay down, we get sleepy. If we put our glasses on and read, our adrenaline kicks in. It takes free will and time to tap into the magic of the flow. Don’t be afraid of laissez-faire.  We, who want to be, can be great.

A study shows that the flow has roots in physiological, behavioral, cognitive and social areas. Most improvisational performers, comics, writers and artists, all experience a similar state of mind when high on passion. I have found a heightened quality of execution when in “the flow of making sterling silver rings. The flow was a familiar friend I thought I had lost long ago, when I had to stop sculpting clay. I was surprised to find that motivation was still rooted in my basic impulse.

Just like a true fountainhead, the more water you draw, the more abundant is its flow. The same is with the flow of art. True flow is inexhaustible; the more control you give to your unconscious, the more magic will flow from you. When I pick up a piece of sterling silver, I never know where the wire will take me.  I just wrap wire. I use no patterns or molds. I’m always surprised at the beautiful form and quiet sensuality that comes forth in my rings. I had little to do with designing them. I just held the wire and let it dance in my hands just like I did when I was sculpting clay.

One study was done with professional classical pianists, in which they played piano solos several times to purposely induce a flow state. A significant relationship was found between the flow state of the pianist, and the pianist’s heart rate, blood pressure, and major facial muscles. As the pianist entered the flow state, heart rate and blood pressure decreased, and the major facial muscles relaxed.

Many of us have adrenaline flowing through our veins like warm wine. Opportunity only knocks once. Let reality be reality. Let your nimble fingers begin honing your passion into purpose. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like and be grateful for your inborn gifts. Lao Tzu says, “Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes of flow. Don’t resist them – that only creates sorrow. “

Poem Flow

I am an 11:11 angel, I pray to be a Celestial artisan,
that my soul be sprinkled with passionate thoughts,
when I am tired, I let their angelic wings fan me with healing energetic breezes,
and I let them light my eyes with the lamps of wisdom
so I can see what is right or wrong,
and give me the creative license of mixing pain and pleasure, terror and hope,

Bless me with celestial knowing, wit, wryness, color and an angelic sense of timing,
wake me out of a sound sleep and give me words to translate pain and loneliness
into a form, I can understand,
And let my optimism fall like seeds to the moist warm ground
to take root in the footsteps of others.