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Photo Courtesy of Paul Stevenson (flickr)

As much as I think and talk about passion, it seems to elude me more than anything else. I am passionate about many things, but I can’t seem to nail down why on earth I exist. I can’t seem to figure out what I was sent here to do. I literally struggle with this ultimate predicament every day of my life. I question my job, the city I live in, the things I claim to be passionate about, and even the book I spent 2 years creating. I don’t understand how I am supposed to choose my future when I have no understanding of my past or present. I feel stuck. I seem to lack the ability to choose because I change my mind about who I want to be every 30 seconds. Choosing one thing to do means I am also choosing not to pursue everything else. The grass is always greener in my head and I love to second guess myself to the point of insanity.

So, where do I go from here? To be honest, I’m not really sure, save one thing. I always know that going back to the basics solves my biggest problems. When I am stressed, frustrated, or simply stuck on something that doesn’t seem to have an obvious solution, I do what always works for me. Mostly, this includes taking care of my basic needs. My wife and I are big fans of Abraham Maslow. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a staple discussion in our house and it always seems to clarify my difficulties. When I go back to the basics I always seem to do the same three things: clean and organize my stuff, workout until I can’t stand up, and sleep as much as possible. These fundamentals allow me to clear my head by doing repetitive activities that make me feel accomplished. Doing the dishes has a calming effect on me. Working out is a great stress reliever.  Sleeping is the one of the most energizing things I can think of. After spending a few days, or even just a few hours, focused on these basic life necessities I am able to slow things down and see the bigger picture. I am able to more clearly identify what’s bugging me and exactly what needs to be done to address the issue.

I don’t have all the answers, but what I do have is the ability to change the way I perceive my own existence. I can choose to find solutions or wallow in my own self-pity. I can think about all the crap in my life, or I can focus on being grateful for what I have and optimistic about what I am about to do.

Take a look below at an excerpt from Chapter 3 – Passion and Purpose, taken directly from my new eBook, Graduated And Clueless.

Passion, the Steppingstone to Purpose

You life purpose will be clear in hindsight. This concept was difficult for me to grasp because I am impatient. I always want the answer now. Let your purpose find you, instead of you directly pursuing it. In other words, live with passion and the purpose of your life will be clear in time. This may seem like a contradiction to the idea that you must seek out your own purpose, but it is in fact a method that may lead to a meaningful life faster than you could imagine. Finding your passion is like finding your spouse, you can set all the parameters for what you are looking for and then find a great match with someone who is completely different than what you thought you wanted. It is quite likely your passion will find you before you ever find it. However, that does not mean you do not try to look for it.

Focus on creating a life that attracts purpose by seeking out what you love to do and doing it as often as possible. Purpose is based upon authentic passion and skill, combined with daily decision-making that fosters the growth of those two elements. The goal is to identify the unique combination of your most powerful passions and your most competent skills. This influential combination is an enormous steppingstone in attracting purpose. As you pursue activities, hobbies, careers, and the like, which are based upon your interests and areas of competence, you enable meaning to sneak into your work. You put more of yourself into what you do. You may even find yourself working longer and harder on accident because you care about what you do so much it becomes a part of your identity.

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Don’t forget to check out my new revolutionary eBook for conquering life after college!

The Clueless Graduate,

Jeff & Tessa Sanders

Jeff Sanders


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