How to Find Your Passion, Your Life Direction, and Your Purpose

I stumbled upon Growing Bolder back in 2010 while writing my first book. I think I spent two hours on the site–immersed in one positive story after another. It was the perfect place of inspiration for the metamorphosis I was going through at the time: just months after bemoaning the idea of growing old on my 44th birthday, I experienced a turn-around moment when I unwrapped a long-buried passion of my teen years and got back into the sport of barefoot water skiing. The stories I read at Growing Bolder simply reinforced my new-found excitement at the idea of growing bolder instead of older. I was now looking forward to the future, instead of thinking it was all going to be a downhill ride.

I met Bill Shafer when he came to the World Barefoot Center in Winter Haven, Florida to capture my story (A Mom Who Walks on Water). From the very first handshake, I loved the guy. When Bill talked about his work, his life, and his purpose–he spilled PASSION into every conversation. Bill left a long-time job as a TV reporter to co-create Growing Bolder with Marc Middleton. They both wanted to focus on positive, uplifting stories of people living life to the fullest.

 

I’ve been really fortunate to benefit from some great advice and encouragement from Bill whenever we talk. During a recent conversation, I told Bill how I was in a state of flux at the moment, pondering my next direction. Bill casually tossed out some wisdom that I think answers some deep questions–how to find your passion, your life direction, and your purpose. Bill said:

We’re all sitting around the same table. We all get dealt a hand of cards. Some of us will take those cards and turn them into a winning hand. Some will fold and walk away. Some will throw out some, and focus on the others. Look at your hand. What’s in it? What do you have that nobody else does? What are your strengths? Then think, who would this help? Then start out on a path, one step at a time, reassessing all the way, constantly reading those cards and walking in as straight a line as possible…

 

Thanks, Bill.

 

Karen Putz is an author, speaker, and Passion Mentor who helps others unwrap their passions at any age.  For fun, she walks on water with the assistance of a rope, boat, and driver. Connect with Karen via Twitter, Instagram,Facebook, and her website: Ageless Passions.