You may have seen this video that’s been circulating around Facebook and Twitter of a drummer who is VERY into the music.  It is hilarious to see him completely rocking out when the music is actually pretty mellow.  Check it out and you’ll see what I mean….

[youtube www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw3z9s99r64]

But on a serious note, I think this guy is very inspiring.  He is an excellent example of someone who really, really, really loves his work.  He is completely enjoying himself and giving everything he possibly can to the performance and to his band mates. Who wouldn’t love to feel as passionate about their work?

As a coach, I work with people to help them find meaningful and fulfilling work.  Each person’s situation is unique and complex and certainly can’t be fully addressed in an article, but here are a few ideas to help you bring passion back into your work….or to help you find passionate work for the first time.  After all, this life is short and you have a special role to play.  It is time to find your calling!

Some people know they don’t like their current work but aren’t sure what they really want to do in life.  If this is your situation, you can start learning about what you enjoy by journaling about some of your favorite experiences.  Reflect on your life and the times you’ve felt most alive and fulfilled.  What were you doing at those times?  Who were you with, or were you alone? What kind of environment were you in?  Why was this experience important to you?  Reflections like this can provide a way to start identifying what is fulfilling to you.

Some people already know where their true passion lies but haven’t pursued it because of fear, lack of funds, or other perceived barriers.  If this is your situation, you can start moving toward your passion by taking small steps.  One step today means you are closer to your passion than you were yesterday!  There are many ways to start.  For example, you could start by researching more about your chosen career and applying what you learn in your everyday life.  In other words, start building your skills. And, even if you don’t currently have the funds or time to go to school for what you want to do, you can start building connections by asking for informational interviews with people who work in your chosen field.  Learn as much as you can!

Some people feel they are in the right field but have lost their “spark” and feel stuck or burned out.  If this is your situation, think back to when you started your work and felt excited about it.  What drew you to this work?  What have been your best experiences with it?  How can you bring some of that passion back into your work now? You can also examine the barriers that may be causing problems.  Is there an interpersonal challenge at work that you don’t know how to solve?  Are you taking care of yourself or is your health suffering and bringing your mood and energy down?  Are family or other challenges outside of work affecting your experience at work?   Identifying any challenges that are getting in the way is the first step towards solving them.  You can ask for help to work on any of these issues.  After all, this is YOUR life and you need to be at your best to fulfill your purpose.

And finally, some people have found a balance between work that pays the bills and work that they truly love.  I admire people who have found a way to pursue their passion even if that passion doesn’t make enough money for them to live on.  For many, having a job that funds the time they can spend on their true passion is a powerful way to fulfill their purpose.  Of course it’s great to earn a living by your calling, but some people actually prefer to not have to depend on their calling for money.  They find that it gives them more freedom to pursue their passion in a way they desire. For example, I’ve worked with several artists who love their craft, but don’t want the lifestyle it takes to make a living exclusively from that craft.  A musician may love the experience of performing and the experience of creating, but doesn’t want the constant travel, late nights, and social networking that is required to make a living from her music.  Many for whom this is true have found a way to continue to make music and share it that allows them to also be home and with family.

As you can see, there is always a way to bring more of what you love into your life.  Wishing you work that you truly love!