What would you be doing? Essentially, the question I am asking is if money was no object, and every job paid the same salary, how would you spend your days? Maybe the answer came quickly for you and you have visions of teeing off next to Phil Mickelson, or shouting “BAM” next to Emeril. Maybe you would spend your days fighting for the needs of those less fortunate. For some, the answer to this question will roll right off the tongue. For many others, the answer requires some honest introspection.
One of the reasons that I love this question is that it gives insight into what truly drives an individual to wake up every day and feel like they are not just going through the motions. It helps people find out what allows them to live each day to its fullest. The answer is often the key into what people instinctively feel is their purpose in life.
Personally, I am not sure that twenty years ago I would have been able to answer this question with conviction. Today, I can say unequivocally that I would be a writer. Unfortunately, no one has come knocking at my door with some hefty advance to write the next big novel and I do have a mortgage payment to make. Rather than dismissing my passion, I found a way to incorporate my love for writing into my daily life… hence, "Wednesdays with Susan."
I think one of the most important things we can do on our life journey is to help ourselves and others find the answer to this question. Does it mean they can quit their job and head out to the links or spend their days mixing it up in the kitchen? Most likely not, but it can help with creating balance in our lives. If your passion is singing, have you joined a choir? If your passion is helping children, are you finding time to volunteer in your community?
Like me, you may not be able to abandon your career or your paycheck. That doesn’t mean you should abandon your passion. There are more opportunities for fulfillment than most of us believe and I would love to hear from any of you who have found your answer!
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