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What's Stopping You?
9 years ago
happy early morning coffee talk (and wb to FA, lol). I've been feeling really great and motivated lately, and I just wanted to have a bit of a serious discussion with you guys. I always seem to get great feedback when I talk about things like this so I'm really curious to see where you're all at.
Where are you at in your life right now, emotionally? Do you feel like you're on the right path and like you've got a purpose? I know 'purpose' is one of those things people roll their eyes at, but personally I think it's very real. I'm not a religious person but I do believe that everyone has a 'thing' that they were meant to do. It doesn't need to revolutionize the world, it can be anything. What are you passionate about? What excites you when you think about it? If money were no object, what would you be doing? You don't necessarily need to answer in the comments, but I think these are really important questions to ponder.
I see a lot of videos and books and articles about how to pursue your passion and how to be successful with it, but I think that a bigger issue is that a lot of people don't even know what that passion is. There are so many doors and (for me, at least) it's terrifying to have to choose just one, knowing that the rest will inevitably close behind you. But it's important to remember that if we don't choose, then none of them are explored.
I've had two doors that I've been eyeing for a long time: art and fitness. For a couple years I've been peeking into one with my foot in the other, trying to get the best of both worlds. Art was my first passion and something I do currently full time, and I'm really grateful and I love what I do. But I've always flirted with health and fitness. I'm sure if you are even reading this then you've read similar journals I've written before about my trouble choosing. But then I remembered that quote (from Johnny Depp I believe?) "If you love two people at the same time, choose the second. Because if you really loved the first one, you wouldn't have fallen for the second.” So I pretty spontaneously applied to university for Kinesiology, and now that I'm accepted and I've made that commitment, I've discovered more focus than I've had in my entire life. I understand you can have multiple passions, like I don't need to cut out art or anything now that I've made my decision, but there's been such a huge paradigm shift now that I know which I'm going to committedly pursue.
I know everyone's situation is different. Some people don't even have two passions to choose between. But personally I believe there's something everyone has flirted with at one point or another. It might sound a little reckless, but I honestly think you should just do that thing. Even if you're uncertain if it's right for you, stop trying to plan everything and be 100% before you commit and just jump into it. You might end up realizing it wasn't right for you, but at least you'd know. And I almost guarantee you'd find your true purpose in the process. I understand it's more complicated then that, but if you're unhappy, then honestly what is the point of staying where you're at?
I'm a problem solver by nature, so when I became unhappy, I made a list of everything that was making me feel that way. Then beside each problem I wrote as many solutions as I could think of. It made me realize that all of my issues stemmed from the same problem. I really recommend you guys trying this if you're unhappy.
ANYWAY goodness I could talk about this forever. I just finished a very short book from John. C. Maxwell "How Successful People Grow" and I definitely recommend it. It's got questions at the end of each chapter that really engage you and make you apply it to your life rather than just mindlessly skim through the pages. SO YEAH. Check that out.
Where are you at in your life right now, emotionally? Do you feel like you're on the right path and like you've got a purpose? I know 'purpose' is one of those things people roll their eyes at, but personally I think it's very real. I'm not a religious person but I do believe that everyone has a 'thing' that they were meant to do. It doesn't need to revolutionize the world, it can be anything. What are you passionate about? What excites you when you think about it? If money were no object, what would you be doing? You don't necessarily need to answer in the comments, but I think these are really important questions to ponder.
I see a lot of videos and books and articles about how to pursue your passion and how to be successful with it, but I think that a bigger issue is that a lot of people don't even know what that passion is. There are so many doors and (for me, at least) it's terrifying to have to choose just one, knowing that the rest will inevitably close behind you. But it's important to remember that if we don't choose, then none of them are explored.
I've had two doors that I've been eyeing for a long time: art and fitness. For a couple years I've been peeking into one with my foot in the other, trying to get the best of both worlds. Art was my first passion and something I do currently full time, and I'm really grateful and I love what I do. But I've always flirted with health and fitness. I'm sure if you are even reading this then you've read similar journals I've written before about my trouble choosing. But then I remembered that quote (from Johnny Depp I believe?) "If you love two people at the same time, choose the second. Because if you really loved the first one, you wouldn't have fallen for the second.” So I pretty spontaneously applied to university for Kinesiology, and now that I'm accepted and I've made that commitment, I've discovered more focus than I've had in my entire life. I understand you can have multiple passions, like I don't need to cut out art or anything now that I've made my decision, but there's been such a huge paradigm shift now that I know which I'm going to committedly pursue.
I know everyone's situation is different. Some people don't even have two passions to choose between. But personally I believe there's something everyone has flirted with at one point or another. It might sound a little reckless, but I honestly think you should just do that thing. Even if you're uncertain if it's right for you, stop trying to plan everything and be 100% before you commit and just jump into it. You might end up realizing it wasn't right for you, but at least you'd know. And I almost guarantee you'd find your true purpose in the process. I understand it's more complicated then that, but if you're unhappy, then honestly what is the point of staying where you're at?
I'm a problem solver by nature, so when I became unhappy, I made a list of everything that was making me feel that way. Then beside each problem I wrote as many solutions as I could think of. It made me realize that all of my issues stemmed from the same problem. I really recommend you guys trying this if you're unhappy.
ANYWAY goodness I could talk about this forever. I just finished a very short book from John. C. Maxwell "How Successful People Grow" and I definitely recommend it. It's got questions at the end of each chapter that really engage you and make you apply it to your life rather than just mindlessly skim through the pages. SO YEAH. Check that out.
I have a long lasting relationship with a man I adore and I just realized recently is of a depth that many people (at least in my age bracket or my region) are unfamiliar with. It's fulfilling and enjoyable to the highest extent.
I study what I like and I have enough time to dedicate to a hobby that ALSO gives me success and monetary gain. Something many people would only wish for.
But what I am really passionate about is working, it's doing, being productive, making, being of use. That's why I overwork myself or burden myself with workload upon workload because I ultimately enjoy it! Studying, working with the animals, creating, cooking, cleaning, progressing in life, helping others...I just kinda love being useful like that haha. Does it make sense?
I also don't think you should have to chose between several passions, you can pursue as many things as you want! That's the joy of life! You can change your pursuits through your life as well, come back to an old passion or find a completely new thing!
I do agree, you can have as many passions as you like, but as time has it, the more successful you want to be with one passion the more time it requires. So you definitely need to prioritize them. But balance is definitely key. :)
So, I am dropping music completely, and taking up drawing, because I can honestly say I enjoy drawing a lot more than I enjoyed making music, and I am not even very good at drawing yet. I would still be trying to pursue art if money were no object, I just want to create things.
Honestly, I think 2016 so far has been hard for everyone. My little dog was crushed by a tree, I didn't get into the art school I wanted, yada yada yada. It's been harder on others though. I've read journals about ailing grandparents, deaths in a family, sickly pets, and people finding out they have cancer. As rough as mine has been, it's paled in comparison of others. I just hope this year can get better from here. For everyone.
I definitely have purpose and am on the right path, doing well with commission work full time here. On the side I enjoy hiking, cooking, sewing (skirts/dresses), and sometimes knitting. For a while now I've been convinced I have a perfect life and am the most happiest person *ever* so when problems or depression creep up I don't have to let it bother me because I know objectively everything is pretty peachy. I love everything.
Recently I was kind of sad that it's so hard to befriend other awesome/exceptional artists, I aspire to be truly great and it seems dreamy to have friends taking the same journey with me. I thought "Canadian artist" collabs/artbooks and junk (hoping to get a booth at Vancoufur next year) would be so cool an idea though I haven't got around to asking anyone but I know everyone's insanely busy. I'm hoping to get the printing/selling experience this next year then maybe asking people after that, for now the plan is to be optimistic and carry on! ^.~
I have a summer job and am being pushed to pursue a job in the field my degree is for. BUT I DON'T THINK I want to???
Other than that business I've recently changed my major to law enforcment... Which despite my general lack of interest for people, I can't deny that at the end of the day I feel obligated to make sure people are safe & to just generally be of assistance to someone in need. Oddly enough, it feels like the LE path is the correct path to be on.
That said, I feel that my own streak of fatalism and pessimism is my own worst enemy. I can babble on that forever but I see that most of the journal responses here are kind of downers anyway so I'll leave it at that.
I will be away as long as my savings allow it but I am already looking into two possible next steps: to study medical science in Asia or try to pursue a career in travelling and/or health business. My passion is fitness and food science and have always been interested in travelling and culture so might be able to combine these things.
Dunno, gonna look into it after travelling for several months.
i am safe where i am now, and pulling my life back together bits at a time, but i lack a real direction.
im plowin through all the art that i owe so i can re-open buisness.
i sell auctions n adopts to make bills along the way.
i got on food stamps to help feed myself but unless i can get on something more substantial like disability then i dont have many options ahead of me.
currently the only thing stopping me IS money. my options are very narrow and i have to rely on people to be kind to me. both for transportation and for affordable housing
My sense of purpose and my passion have eroded to a point where life has become very simple. I exist to exist only because I currently exist. Simplicity is a blissful thing. I had loved flying/piloting in the past. It's one of the few things I can do where I feel whole and right.
Having said this, the recent years have been extremely fruitful. I have a slew of new friends, a steady job and now a mate. I should be happy. Perhaps one day I will be happy. There's plenty of time still for everything to fall into place. ^^
That said, I have been really struggling with sobriety to the point where I feel like I need to get some outside help. I really don't want everything I've worked so hard for to fall apart, like it had back in highschool for me. Moving really helped, but it isn't enough at this point. Other than that though, everything's been amazing! Although I miss my boyfriend more than anything, who's back in CT.
I'm in graduate school now, and everyone tells me I'm going to be set for life in a high-demand high-paying field but I'm really anxious about being able to do a good job and not get fired.
I feel I would art a lot more if I didn't always feel like I was being watched by my mom. I'm not, but she could come into my room at any time and see me drawing furry porn. We get along better than we used to, but it's still a humiliation to live with my mom.
On top of that, I worry about the state of my country, America. I fear the rise of fascism with Donald Trump and his Brownshirts, and I fear an ever worsening economy under a Clinton administration, where she'd be too cozy to Wall Street to give us the change we really need. To a certain extent, joining an activist group at my college has given me a community where I can practice activism and try to make the world a better place than I could if I were doing it all alone.