The passion that leads a person to start a business (think Ensign Group) … that thing you would do (therapy) regardless of monetary compensation (and I realize that for some, money itself — or the pursuit of it — is that passion) … that thing that makes your heart beat fast … is the work you should be doing. The work you do that fulfills you and gives — rather than depletes — energy is the ultimate goal. Yes, goal. It’s the “continuing” that matters, not what you accomplish “one day,” but what you do every single day.
Do you need intermittent goals, milestones, and — for lack of a better term — work breakdown structures to focus your energy and provide that sense of completion that is so gratifying and stress-reducing? Absolutely! But the true value of work is in its continuity. One of the greatest human fears is the fear of dying (fear of falling is also very high and can sometimes lead to dying, but I digress). The opposite of dying is continuing. Therefore, continuing to be productive is one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself. Successful people will tell you that the key to winning is simply to persist. It is the same for productivity; arguably, to be productive is to win.
You don’t have to be brilliant, wealthy, high-profile or well-connected to follow your passion. Everyone should do it. If your energy goes up when you go to work, you’re in the right place. If your energy goes down on the way to work, you are wasting your time, which means you are wasting your life. Time is the only real resource. You can always make more money, but you can never make more time. You don’t have to suffer a massive or public failure to wind up in a pool of stagnation. I’m reminded of the parable of the frogs: The ones thrown into a boiling pot of water jumped out immediately; the ones put into cool water that was slowly heated up over time boiled to death.
Pay attention to your passion. Work is where we spend the majority of our time. Work is what defines our lifestyle. It is critical to align your work with your passion — even if your passion changes. It takes courage to change, especially as we age and become secure in many aspects of our lives. But pay attention to the temperature of the pot you are sitting in. If you can change, you won’t die (metaphorically speaking), and what you risk is living the full blaze of your passion.
by Jon Anderson, Therapy Resource