Have you ever seen a musician perform? I’m not talking about just listening, but actually observing his body movements and facial expressions. I once saw a Santana concert on TV. I’ve always loved his music, but that night, as the camera cut to each band member’s solo, I was looking instead of listening. I began to notice how their personalities transformed as they sang, played drums, or played guitar. Their faces contorted to the rhythm of the music, heads tilted from side to side, eyes closed, looking inward. What I saw for the first time was how much passion Carlos Santana and his band members had for his music. It was as if they became the music. They were no longer artists on stage; they were music and soul, united as one.
When my husband, Joe, decided to give up his eighteen-year high-tech career, he saw photography (a lifelong interest) as a new adventure, but his logical mind wasn’t comfortable with it. So I asked him some questions. “How do you feel when you walk into a camera store and see all that equipment and beautiful photography on display? Do you feel like a kid in a candy store? Do you love the smell of it? Do you want to stay forever? Even get a little excited ?” His response: “Yes! Yes! Yes to everything!” Okay, maybe he didn’t admit to being excited, but photography was his passion, and to be true to himself, he needed to dedicate himself to it.
You can always tell if a person is passionate about something just by listening to them and seeing them talk about it. Her face lights up and her eyes sparkle, as if there is an electrical current swirling within her. Think of TV personality Nigella Lawson as she licks pie crust from her fingers. You could almost taste the chocolate from her as you watched her gobble it down and lick her lips. Or the author Frances Mayes talking about her adventures in Italy. It makes you want to buy a villa in Tuscany and pick olives for the rest of your life. Their passion for what they love makes them sensual, attractive and interesting goddesses. When you see them, you think: “I want something of what she has, that energy… that joy”. You can have it.
Passion is the feeling that rises from the depths of your heart like a bubbling cauldron of hot liquid. You can try to put a lid on it, but the steam escapes from time to time, reminding you of what lies just below the surface, feeding your soul. Most of us have a passion for something in life. Maybe it’s spending time with your kids, skiing, or watching old movies. It is what gives you joy. It is what brings a smile to your face. It is what allows you the freedom of creativity without the burden of logic.
Being passionate is a true sign of embracing the spirit of the goddess within. Find your passion and make it part of who you are. When you unleash her passion in life, even the most mundane or stressful moments of your day become easier to deal with.
5 ways to let passion flow:
o Notice what makes your heart pound and do it more.
o Send loving thoughts to every task, person or situation.
o At least once a week, do something you enjoy for an hour.
o Join a group with interests similar to yours.
o Share your passion with others. (If it’s knitting, give knitted gifts. If it’s cooking, bring a dish to a friend’s party.)
Excerpted from the book: The Goddess of Happiness, A Realist’s Guide to Heavenly Balance and Bliss
