Finding Your Passion

Fit Over Forty Column/ Ms Fitness Magazine

Finding Your Passion

By Linda Mitchell www.lindalufitness.com

I believe for most of us the time will come when we begin reevaluating our choices in life; asking ourselves:  is this really how I want to live the rest of my life?  You may feel you are stuck in a miserable situation, whether you are in a dead-end job, overweight and out of shape, or you’re in a loveless relationship.   Many people out there are living their life just to get by and survive.  More often than not people may even feel a little bit afraid to take the necessary steps to change their situation.   You can either just survive, or you can choose to succeed.  Success comes by following your heart and finding your passion.   It’s never too late to choose a new path or strengthen an old one.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, dream, discover.”

- Mark Twain

To identify your passion, try these three simple steps.

Find your passion

1.      What brings a permanent smile to your face?

2.      What can you see yourself doing all day long?

3.      Do you love it so much you would do it for free?

Face your fears

1.      Ask yourself, what’s the worst thing that can happen?  Prepare to accept or improve upon it.

2.      Identify the risk involved. Take a chance.

3.      Have faith and take the first step.

Take Action

1.      Prioritize and make a list of necessary steps to reach your goal

2.      Start small and everything will begin fall in place, one by one.

3.      Get Support  from those that will encourage, motivate, and inspire you on your journey

Recently, I caught up with life coach and career expert Polly Giblin (www.pollygiblin.com).  Polly’s advice on finding your purpose and passion is to ask yourself: what’s your heart saying?  Polly said, for most of us, finding our way in the world has more to do with what others think we should be doing, than what our heart tells us to do. She says when you allow yourself to recognize the small voice within; you can begin taking new actions toward living your dreams.

When you actually decide what your passions are, you may feel that they are a little foolish and crazy.  If so, you are probably on the right track to brilliance.  Be a pioneer, instead of going down the path where everyone else is.   Blaze your own trail; that is what will set you apart and make you great.  There will always be naysayers and those who stand on the sidelines and criticize.  Wouldn’t you rather get out there and live your life then watch it go by wishing:  I could a, would a, should a?  The more steps you take towards your dreams, the happier you will become.

Celebrate your Age.

3 generations
Linda, my daughter Tiffany and my mother Marjorie

Have you ever noticed two people of the same birth-date seem to be miles apart in the aging process? You may be getting older but it doesn't mean you have to be old. Age is only a number on the calendar, attitude is what determines your over the hill or rounding the corner for your next adventure. I believe attitude truly determines your altitude ninety percent of the time.


As that day on the calendar approaches many people make a mental decision to stop striving for something because they feel their time has passed. Well I'm here to tell you that your time has just begun...
I want you to think back for a moment to the last time you really went after something. Didn't you feel vibrant and alive? Don't let a number on the calendar call the shots on how you are going to live your life. To live and I mean to really live life to the fullest is to go after your dreams with the pursuit, passion and vigor of youth


    Ask yourself what keeps you ticking? Go after things that excite you so much that you can hardly wait to get out of bed in the morning and you feel eager for your day to begin. Life opens up when you do. Once you open our mind to all of the possibilities, you won't believe the exciting things that life has in store for you. Age will never cross your mind again; the primary thing on your mind will be life. Sometimes you may feel stuck but the only thing standing in your way is probably you, sochange your mind-set today. Give yourself permission to live your best life now.


"Even if you're on the right track you will get run over if you sit there"-Will Rogers

Happy New Year
With Love LindaLu

The power of "Goal Setting".

"Without goals we are like ships that have set sail with no destination."

Dreams can be realized. We must first know what we want, and then have the courage to go after it.  It doesn’t matter what our dreams are big or small, we will never accomplish the goals we don’t set. 

Opportunities are available to all of us. So why do some of us have the life we really want, while others never seem to achieve their lifelong dreams?  Surprisingly enough many people just never ask for what they want, nor do they pursue their dreams. Drifting through life aimlessly is easy, because we never risk failing.  Fear of failure is a powerful force. Fear can cheat us out of realizing our greatest dreams if we let it.  COURAGE is the best antidote to overcome fear. Go after what you want in life no matter how outrageous your goal may seem. 

Give yourself a clear cut goal with a time-line of reaching it. Visualize yourself actually achieving your dreams and then go after them. The pursuit of your dreams is a very important part of actually achieving them. 

 “Nothing ventured, nothing gained”