to sign up to receive your free motivational newsletter, mention "newsletter" in the contact box  - . Contact for free newsletter !!! Newsletter - April 2006 - Proceed With Passion!
	Thank you so much!  There were many kind responses to the first newsletter - Strength in Quiet.  And the positive feedback came from different people, different situations, and different locations !   Lesson … “jump off the curb” … I wanted to do this for a long time … but with some trepidation.  If you have an idea - go for it!   Steps will unfold and kind people will appear to help you. Here’s just a sampling of the many wonderful people that responded favorably … Sandy (mother of 4 in New York), Curt (engineer at Kennedy Space Center), Stacie (Florida State Seminole fan), Chris (lifelong friend in Alaska), Maria R. (writer for Hispanic newspaper), Bill (radio personality, California), Edie (lawyer, originally from South America), Jim (software business development, New Hampshire), Denise (math teacher in New York), Mike (speaker from the Great North, Canada), Sister Essie (from Ireland), Steve (college VP in New York), Josephine (Strathmore University, Kenya), Alphonso (banker from Spain) and his wife Maria I. … and many others … thanks to everyone! Proceed With Passion! Last month, we noted the added sense of depth, direction, and meaning that is available to us when set aside time each day to be quiet.  Powerful, creative solutions come to us with the quiet of the day. But even those connected with the “deep well within” at times find it a little tough to get out of bed in the morning.   Even strong people have days when the job ahead seems all too blah.  Sometimes the spice is missing at work.   Sometimes it is missing in our personal lives.   In contrast, aren’t we drawn to that friend who is so driven by what they do that they make you want to join in their excitement?  What drives that co-worker to walk a little faster down the hallway to carry out their daily tasks?  Just why does that volunteer seem to bubble with joy over that monumental undertaking?  And what is it that makes “the life of the party” tick? We love our spouse dearly and deeply.  But sometimes the spice may be missing.  How many times have we heard of a partner, wanting to add a little passion in their romance, getting an idea for a special getaway weekend?  Steps are taken to ensure a great weekend … flowers, dinner, staying at a special place … adding a bit of passion back into their lives … How about another sort of passion? And what steps can we take? Much can be said about passion and why that co-worker has that bounce in their step.  People who proceed with passion in their undertakings usually have connected with their sense of imagination.  All of us have imagination.   Imagination allows us to envision success, to see, to understand things that are ahead of us and make them real.   When we unlock our imagination, we see so much more about things and people and ideas.  Our resourcefulness is opened up.  We make more connections from different areas of life … and more “coincidences” take place. Our imagination lies in three “zones”.  The key to understanding our passion is to understand our zones.   1.       Some of us are constructed with a keen sense of material imagination.  Colors of paint, textures of fabric or       wood, the smell of food, the shapes of objects, or the workings of a lawn mower … all of these material       qualities are alive for us.  We understand the subtleties as an artist with a brush. 2.       For some, the focus is people.  Some people have a natural tendency to know how people act, what they are       feeling, why people do what they do, when is their birthday, what were they wearing the other day.  These       people love people.  They understand why people do things.  They like to laugh with people, talk with people,       and eat with people.   3.       And for others, the world is about the philosophical, the abstract … about ideas.  They understand how ideas       connect.  They see trends and patterns. They are idealists … whether religious or political … they are       inspired by causes.  The great movements of civilization have all been powered by the force of great ideas. Each of us possess some of each of these qualities.  A balanced imagination is powerful.  But each of us also has a primary set of tools that power us each day.    When we connect with our imagination, we pull together so many aspects of our self and our daily lives.  Having a healthy imagination allows us to see things before we can achieve them.  We see what it is we want to accomplish and avoid the “wrong way Jones” blahs.  Imagination opens up our resourcefulness and creativity … whether it is to add the right color to the painting … get just the right present for our friend’s birthday … or finding the right words to push a cause. A few bits about imagination and passion … -        In some cultures, the concept of imagination equals “faith”.  Where is your faith?  Where is your imagination? -        Mother Theresa’s prayer “Do It Anyway” is an excellent example of faith and passion …check it out!                             http://www.stjoseph-edinburg.org/mother_theresa.htm -        People who proceed with passion always leave others wanting to know … what is it about that person?  I want    to know what they know! -        People with passion often are better at anticipating life’s events. -        One difference between humans and other animals  … that spark in our eye!  That fire within us!  The touch      of God! Want to connect with the passion within you?  Here’s a few steps to consider: 1.     List out 5 to 10 things you have really excelled at over the years.  Think about what you enjoy doing the     most.  What have been your great moments in life?  What have others patted you on the back for? 2.    Get in your “zone” … Identify which zone of your imagination was behind these successes.  What aspect of    your imagination most frequently connected you with success?     3.     Commit to a special “getaway project” just for yourself … to add a little more spice in your personal life.       Treat yourself to a project “in your zone” that you can succeed at in a reasonable amount of time.   If you are a    “material” person, build or create something.  If you are a “people” person, arrange a special event with a    special person or group.  If you are an “idea” person, perhaps volunteer for a bite sized “grand undertaking”. 4.     Employ some enthusiasm and gusto in your “special getaway project”.  Envision it as a great project.  Tell    others about it.  Show your passion, make it contagious! 5.     Finish it!    Check off a box somewhere that you have completed your “special getaway project”!  Finishing    things adds to our passion. Passion is stoked when vague generalities and ideas are replaced by specific projects and plans.   Do what you really enjoy … what it is that you really love … and other things will fall into place. The benefits gained from one project will spill over into others.  Allow the positives to flow over into other aspects of your life.  With success in one “zone” … comes an abundance of the textures and hues of life.   With imagination comes passion. There is a power in this truth. Have a “passionate” day!   Mike April 2, 2006 NL02 Contact for free newsletter !!! Return To Main Page