Jay Shetty on finding your passion

 

Wishing, waiting and wanting is the state in which we spend most of our times. Let's change it now.

When water is still, you can see into it clearly. Similarly, when things slow down and they are still, you get greater clarity. We may identify certain areas of our life that don't fulfill us. In this uncertain time we are getting the time to slow down, let us gain clarity.

I let Jay Shetty guide me towards my passion in a podcast. He outlines four steps to get started with the process:

1. Overcoming overthinking and procrastination

2. Two paths towards your passion

3.value of strategy, expertise

4. Regret(getting into action)

1. Overthinking

We spend so much time thinking that we never get into action. Jay procrastinated for 2 years before he launched his first video.First, lets remove a misconception. We think distraction is stopping us from moving forward. But it is an attraction issue. We are simply not very attracted to the thing so we don't do it.

Think about it.

Do we procrastinate doing what we enjoy?

If we like doing something, say talking to our loved ones, would we procrastinate?

When we enjoy something , we want to do it. There is a lack of attraction.

We might not be truly passionate about it or we may have not yet discovered why its truly important to us. If we are looking at something we are truly attracted to, nothing can distract us from it. There is a magnetic pull.    

So if you are procrastinating, ask yourself, 'why am I really doing this?' , 

'Is it because I don't enjoy it?' 

'Is it because I am scared of its outcome?'

'Do I fear that people won't like it?'

Now are you really gonna let public validation stop you?  Throw yourself out there. You will meet people who appreciate and accept you. 

Sometimes we are so fixated in making the perfect decision that we forget to move in the right direction.We keep thinking about producing the best that we fail to produce anything.

Getting started is a powerful way of learning, getting insights, feedback that will help to improve.Perfection comes from progress and failure. In the book, 'The Lean Startup' Eric Ries talk about MVP: Minimum Viable Product. Any successful company didn't start with the finished product. You can start with your MVP. Don't just think, do. 

Wishing, waiting and wanting is the state in which we spend most of our times. Let's change it now.

2. Two paths to discover your passion

        Follow your interest.

        Follow your pain.

We don't realize that we can be very passionate about our pain in a way that we want to support other people going through similar pain. We might have had some traumatic experiences that inspire us to do something to protect other people from that or help them.People have learnt to serve through their pain. I don't have a better example to clarify this.

"Patrick was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He had to cut his balls to remove cancer from his body and survive. He felt so bereft during the experience that he wanted to be there for cancer kids out there. He started a cancer support group for cancer patients to find other people they could relate to and share with, to inspire and support each other."

(From Fault in Our Stars, John Green) 

You will find many such stories out there.

It is like do something about your pain that will serve you and the community. We find our passion in wanting to solve a pain-point that we have personally experienced or causes us great stress(maybe hunger, illiteracy, mental health).

Reflect on this question,

Right now, in life what is one of the thing that causes you the greatest pain?

The most important thing you can do is asking the right question.

Jay views

"Purpose as an adult, passion as a teenager and interest as a child."

"When you use your passion to serve others, it turns into purpose."

3. Strategic time investment

You get rewarded when you deliver at your highest potential. Loving your work is step one, now you have to be an expert in that to get rewarded. So invest time in honing your skill.

Five stages of growth that you cannot avoid

                                                   

The happiness from living your passion doesn't come from the result, it comes from the whole process.

Learn about your work. Coaching and mentor-ship can be crucial.

Experiment with what you learned. Only taking in information doesn't transform you.

Learning and experimenting is an iterative process.

Three Ls in Jay's year: Love        Learn         Launch

Three Cs that will help us in our journey: Coaching        Consistency        Community(to be accountable to and to inspire you)

4. Avoiding Regret

Action is the antidote to regret. If you don't want to have regret in your life, act!

Let us do a short self-reflection meditation now (yes, right now) to spring our minds into action.

I know you weren't expecting this but it is important to do it now to get the whole message. Your mind needs this to complete and absorb the learning.

When you are ready , close your eyes and picture yourself at the age of 10 and ask your younger self for some advice.Ask your younger self what is it that you enjoy doing and regret having stopped now.

Give yourself a moment to receive the answer, then hug your younger self and go to meet your 60 years old self. Ask your older self what is that one thing that you regret not having done. Really question your older self and wait for the answer. Whenever you are ready, open your eyes and reflect on the answer.

You may get the answer later in the day. When you do, do something about it. It can be a hobby, a small activity, find the time to do it.

Happiness is in the journey. I hope you find your journey and the strength to continue on it. 

Go. Live your passion.

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