Finding Your Passion

Over the last few weeks, while my new book, “A Friendly Guide to Writing and Ghostwriting” is being produced and printed, (Pub date January 14, 2020), I’ve been feeling disoriented. I was so immersed in it, so passionate about writing, rewriting, editing, choosing cover art, colors, fonts, interior layouts and all the other things involved in producing a book from scratch, I hardly thought about much else. But once those decisions were made, I experienced a letdown, a form of post partum depression, where everything seemed dull and lifeless. The areas of my brain that had been revved up and working overtime suddenly felt empty. I was grieving a loss.

As I investigated my feelings, I realized that it wasn’t that particular book I was missing. I had experienced this same state of mind whenever I finished a book. It was the passion that had driven the act of creation and now, suddenly it was gone. What I needed to do, I figured, was start writing something else. But what? I really didn’t know.

I went to the computer every day and sat there uninspired, feeling sad and wondering if I’d ever have another idea for a book. Nothing moved me as I plucked at a few keyboard letters and deleted as fast as I wrote. I chided myself and tried to scare myself away from trying. I told myself I would never get another great idea so why bother. But I kept going back. I kept on trying. I did it every day for several weeks, afraid that nothing would ever come and my writing career was over – until one day when I was working with a client, trying to inspire her, I got an idea for myself. And that was it. I was off and running.

When I was working with Magic Johnson, I said,” You always knew what you wanted to do. If someone doesn’t know what they want to do, if they feel uninspired, what do you tell them?”
He said, “Try everything you can think of. Keep going until something speaks to you.”

That was what I did when I was looking for a subject for another book. I showed up every day no matter how I felt, and I refrained from bullying myself. I refused to feel victimized. I told myself that no amount of personal insults, pressure and self-loathing would make it happen any faster. In fact, that would only slow things down. I needed to find some compassion for my dilemma so I could dispel the depression and build myself back up again. I kept trying things and helping other people until suddenly I knew what I wanted to do.

Following your passion is a beautiful thing in life. You may have passion for writing, painting, being with family, playing a musical instrument, healing or anything else. All that matters is searching for your passion and not giving up until you find it.

What is your passion? Do you pursue it?